iik 


m^m 


§ 
I 


CO 

o 

H 
.A 


g 


^ 


Q 

H 

CO 


O 
OS 

% 


O 
CQ 
CQ 

a> 
o 


>. 

-p 

0) 

■H 

. 

cu 

Tj* 

LO 

>. 

0O.H            i 

rH 

^           ! 

O    1 

(0 

n^ 

0) 

COCO 

rHt^ 

o 

^  -P 

CO 

ID     . 

Ui 

Q^O 

0) 

• 

> 

• 

•H 

tHI^ 

CO 

r- 

CO 

IT)     V 

^ 

Tf  <D 

10 

^ 

^ 

>-H 

0) 

PQOiP. 

r  . ' 


'vmmmr 


m>^^ 


i 


'^  ^Q^"v 


■  Remember  now  thy  Creator  in  the  days  of  thy  youth." 


PERSUASIVES 

TO 

EARLY  PIETY, 

INTERSPERSED   WITH 

SUITABLE  PRAYERS: 

BY 

J.  G.  PIKE. 

A   NEW  EDITION. 


LONDON,  PRINTED. 

NEW  YORK: 

Reprinted  for  the 
AMERICAN  TRACT  SOCIETY ; 

i\D  SOLD  AT  THEIR  DEPOSITORY,  NO,  144  NASSAU  STREET,  XtAR 
THE  CITY  HALL,  NEW  YORK;  AND  BY  AGENTS  OF  THE  SOCI  F.TY, 
ITS  BRANCHES,  AND  AUXILIARIES,  IN  THE  PRINCIPAL  CiTIgS 
ANUTOW.NS  IN    THE  CMTED    STATES. 

1R30. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAP.  '      PAGE. 

1.  Introductory  Address  to  the  young  Reader,     ....       7 

2.  The  fallen,  guilty,  and  ruined  state  of  Man,   ....     21 

3.  Some  of  the  sins  of  youth  enumerated,    .......     51 

4.  The  nature  of  real  Religion  briefly  described, ....     86 

5.  Cautions  against  some  delusive  supports,  on  which 

many  rest  their  Hopes  to  their  eternal  Ruin, . .     97 

6.  The  worth  of  the  soul  a  reason  for  early  Piety,  . .    109 

7.  The  importance  of  Religion  further  shown,  by  re- 

ference to  the  counsel  of  the  Most  High,  con- 
tained in  his  Word, 121 

8.  The  love  of  God  and  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  a  rea- 

son for  early  Piety, 1 34 

9.  Early  Piety  peculiarly  acceptable  to  God,  and  pe- 

culiarly honoured  by  him, 1.53 

10.  The  advantages  of  early  Religion, 168 

11.  The  pleasantness  of  early  Piety, 202 

12.  The  happy  conclusion  of  a  religious  life  a  motive 

for  early  Piety 214 

13.  The  future  happiness  of  the  young  Christian  a 

motive  for  early  Piety,    230 

14.  No  real  good  possessed  by  those  who  are  destitute 

of  Religion, 245 

15.  The  young  sinner's  ingratitude  to  God,  and  cruel- 

ty to  his  own  soul,  urged  as  reasons  for  em- 
bracing Religion  in  youth, 253 

16.  The  vanity  of  youth,  and  the  uncertainty  of  life, 

reasons  for  the  immediate  choice  of  earlvPietv,  260 


iv  CONTENTS. 

17.  The  sorrows  and  dangers  that  attend  the  way  of 

transgressors,  a  reason  for  the  choice  of  early- 
Religion 267 

18.  The  terrors  and  fearful  consequences  of  death  and 

judgment,  to   the  unconverted,   a  reason  for 
early  Piety, 283 

19.  The  eternal  ruin  of  the  ungodly  a  motive  for  the 

early  choice  of  Religion, 292 

20.  The  young  Reader  entreated  to  make  his  lasting 

choice,     305 

21.  Twenty  objections  to  early  Piety  briefly  stated  and 

answered, 321 

22.  The  young  Reader  further  urged  to  make  no  de- 

lay in  giving  himself  up  to  God, 340 

23.  Brief  addresses  to  several  classes  of  persons  j  and 

a  few  directions  to  the  young  Christian,    ....   347 


PREFACE. 


The  sole  design  of  this  little  volume,  is  to  xirge 
the  young  to  yield  themselves  to  God.  It  interferes 
not  ^vith  the  minor  distinctions  that  divide  the  fol- 
lowers of  the  Saviour;  but  inculcates  that  heartfelt 
Religion,  whose  importance  they  all  unite  in  acknow- 
ledging. 

The  Author  of  the  book  has  no  expectation  of  its 
being  applauded  for  elegance  of  language,  or  the 
beauties  of  imagination.  He  has  not  written  seeking 
human  applause  as  his  reward ;  for  what  is  humau 
applause?  the  applause  of  a  world  whose  duration 
is  a  span ;  —  of  a  world  that  will  soon  vanish  away 
like  smoke  ;  —  of  a  world  whose  very  existence  may 
be  next  to  forgotten  by  the  soul,  in  the  distant  and 
interminable  scenes  of  eternity.  The  minister  of  the 
gospel  meets  with  the  best  commendation,  not  when 
the  discourse  he  may  have  delivered  from  the  pulpit 
or  the  press  is  much  admired,  much  applauded,  but 
when  the  sinner  becomes  dissatisfied  with  himself 
and  his  pursuits;  when  the  prodigal  says,  "I  will 
arise  and  go  to  my  father;"  when  the  penitent  weeps 
in  secret  over  the  crimes  that  have  been  brought  to 
his  review.  Such  applause  the  writer  covets,  and  for 
such  he  does  not  hesitate  to  pray.  He  freely  con- 
fesses, that  it  is  his  desire  to  do  something  for  pro=- 
B 


VI  PREFACE. 

moting  the  kingdom  of  Christ  beyond  the  narrow 
limits  of  his  own  congregation,  and  the  confined 
space  of  a  few  short  years. 

In  composing  the  subsequent  pages,  it  has  been 
the  Author's  wish  to  imitate  the  serious  plainness 
which  prevails  in  the  writings  of  some  of  those  emi- 
nent men,  who  lived  a  century  and  a  half,  or  two 
centuries  ago,  rather  than  the  more  polished  but 
much  less  impressive  manner  of  the  present  age. 
Gospel  truth  is  now  often  held  forth  in  so  refined  a 
style,  that  the  offence  of  the  cross  ceases,  the  force 
of  divine  truth  is  lost;  it  is  little  better  than  the 
mere  wisdom  of  words,  and  has  not  much  more  ef- 
fect than  sounding  brass  or  a  tinkling  cymbal. 

How  far  the  writer  of  this  littl'e  book  has  succeeded 
in  his  aim,  must  now  be  left  to  the  decision  of  God. 
If  he  deign  to  employ  it  as  an  instrument  of  advanc- 
ing his  cause,  it  will  be  successful ;  but  if  he  have 
nothing  for  it  to  do,  the  sooner  it  shall  sink  into 
oblivion  the  better. 


CHAPTER  I. 


IKTRODUCTOBY  ADDRESS  TO  THE  YOONG  READER. 

§  1 .  1\Iy  dear  young  friend,  if  a  person  could 
rise  from  the  dead  to  speak  to  you,  could  come 
from  the  other  world  to  tell  you  what  he  had 
seen  there,  how  attentively  would  you  listen  to 
his  discourse,  and  how  much  would  you  be  af- 
fected by  it !  Yet  a  messenger  from  the  dead 
could  not  tell  you  more  important  things,  than 
those  to  which  I  now  beseech  you  to  attend.  I 
come  to  entreat  you  to  give  your  heart  to  God  ; 
to  follow  the  divine  Redeemer  now;  and  to 
walk  in  the  pleasant  path  of  early  piety.  O  that 
I  could,  with  all  the  fervour  of  a  dying  man, 
beseech  you  to  attend  to  your  only  great  con- 
cerns !  for  of  how  little  consequence  is  this  poor 
transient  world  to  you,  who  have  an  eternal 
world  to  mind  !  — It  is  not  to  a  trifle  that  I  call 
your  attention,  but  to  your  life,  your  all,  your 
eternal  all,  your  God,  your  Saviour,  your  heav- 
en, your  every  thing  that  is  worth  a  thought  or  a 
wish.  Do  not  let  a  stranger  be  more  anxious 
than  yourself  for  your  eternal  welfare.  If  you 
have  been  thoughtless  hitherto,  be  serious  now. 
It  is  time  you  were  so.  You  have  wasted  years 
enough.  Think  of  Sir  Francis  Walsingham's 
words ;  "  While  we  laugh  all  things  are  serious 
around  us.  God  is  serious,  who  preserves  us, 
and  has  patience  towards  us ;  Christ  is  serious, 
who  shed  his  blood  for  us ;  the  Holy  Spirit  is 
serious,  when  he  strives  with  us;  the  whole  crea- 


8  INTRODUCTORY  ADDRESS 

lion  is  serious  in  serving  God  and  us ;  all  are 
serious  in  another  world ;  how  suitable  then  is 
it  for  man  to  be  serious !  and  how  can  we  be 
gay  and  trifling  ?"  Do  you  smile  at  this  grave 
address,  and  say,  this  is  the  cant  of  enthusiasm  ? 
O,  think,  that  those  who  laughed  at  these  solemn 
truths,  when  the  last  hundred  years  began,  now 
laugh  no  more  !  The  friendly  warning  may  be 
neglected,  and  the  truths  of  the  bible  disbeliev- 
ed, but  death  and  eternity  will  soon  force  on  the 
most  careless  heart,  a  deep  conviction,  that  reli- 
gion is  the  one  thing  needful. 

Yes,  my  young  friend,  one  thing  is  needful ; 
so  said  the  Lord  of  life  ;  needful  to  you,  to  me, 
to  all.  The  living  neglect  it,  but  the  dead  know 
its  value.  Every  saint  in  heaven  feels  the  worth 
of  religion,  through  partaking  of  the  blessings  to 
which  it  leads  ;  and  every  soul  in  hell  knows  its 
value  by  its  want.  It  is  only  on  earth  that  tri- 
flers  are  to  be  found ;  and  will  you  be  one  of 
them  ?     God  forbid  ! 

Read,  I  beseech  you,  this  little  book,  with  se- 
rious prayer.  Remember  that  it  is  your  welfare 
which  is  sought.  I  wish  you  to  be  happy  here, 
and  when  time  is  past,  happy  for  ever.  Fain 
would  I  persuade  you  to  seek  a  refuge  in  the 
skies,  and  friends  that  never  fail.  I  plead  with 
you  a  more  important  cause  than  was  ever  con- 
ducted before  an  earthly  judge.  Not  one  which 
concerns  time  only;  but  which  concerns  a  long 
eternity.  Not  one  on  which  a  little  wealth  or 
reputation  depends ;  but  one  on  which  your 
eternal  poverty  or  eternal  riches,  eternal  glory 
or  eternal  shame,  a  smiling  or  a  frowning  God, 
an  eternal  heaven  or  an  eternal  hell,  are  all  de- 
pending.   And  it  is  your  cause  I  plead  and  not 


TO  THE  YOUNG  READER.  9 

my  own  ;  and  shall  I  plead  your  cause  to  your- 
self in  vain  ?    O  my  God,  forbid  that  I  should ! 

I  know,  my  young  friend,  how  apt  we  are 
to  read  the  most  serious  calls  as  if  they  were 
mere  formal  things,  of  little  more  consequence 
to  us  than  the  trifles  recorded  in  a  newspaper ; 
but  do  not  thus  read  this  little  book.  Believe 
me,  I  am  in  earnest  with  you ;  and  read,  I  en- 
treat you,  what  follows,  as  a  serious  message 
which  I  have  from  God  for  you. 

Consider  what  will  be  your  thoughts  of  the 
advice  here  given  you  a  hundred  years  hence. 
Long  before  that  time,  you  will  have  done  with 
this  world  for  ever.  Then  your  now  vigorous 
and  youthful  body  will  be  turned  to  dust,  and 
your  name  probably  forgotten  upon  earth ;  yet 
your  immortal  soul  will  be  living  in  another 
world,  and  far  more  sensible  of  joy  or  grief 
than  it  can  possibly  be  now.  Then,  my  young 
friend,  what  will  you  think  of  diis  friendly  warn- 
ing ?  How  happy  will  you  be  if  you  have  fol- 
lowed the  advice  it  contains !  Fancy  not  that 
it  will  be  then  forgotten.  Calls  and  mercies 
forgotten  here  must  be  remembered  there,  when 
every  sin  is  brought  to  the  sinner's  memory.  If 
now  you  think  me  over-earnest,  you  will  not 
then  entertain  the  same  opinion.  If  now  you 
slight  this  humble  effort  for  promoting  your  sal- 
vation, and  carelessly,  or  contemptuously  throw 
this  book  aside,  or  read  it  and  forget  it,  then,  if 
ten  thousand  worlds  were  yours,  they  would  ap- 
pear a  litde  trifle,  for  another  season  of  salva- 
tion like  that  you  now  enjoy;  and  which,  per- 
haps, you  now  waste  :  but  now  is  your  day  of 
grace;  then,  another  generation  will  have  theirs. 

Tliink  again,  that  while  you  are  reading  this, 

B3 


10  INXaODUCTORY  ADDRESS 

thousands  are  rejoicing  in  heaven,  that  thev,  in 
past  years,  attended  to  such  earnest  calls.  Once 
they  were  as  careless  as  you  may  have  been,  but 
divine  grace  disposed  them  to  listen  to  the  word 
of  life.  They  regarded  the  warnings  addressed 
to  them ;  they  found  salvation ;  they  are  gone 
to  rest ;  and  now  with  what  pleasure  may  they 
recollect  the  fervent  sermon,  or  the  little  book, 
that,  under  God,  first  awakened  their  attention, 
and  first  impressed  their  hearts !  About  one 
hundred  and  fifty  years  ago,  a  gentleman  went 
into  the  shop  of  a  Mr.  Boulter,  a  London  book- 
seller, to  inquire  for  some  plays.  Mr.  Boulter 
told  him  he  had  none ;  but  showed  him  Mr, 
Flavel's  treatise  of  "  Keeping  the  Heart ;"  and 
assured  him,  that  it  would  do  him  more  good 
than  plays.  The  gentleman  glancing  at  diflfer- 
ent  pages,  said,  "  What  a  fanatic  was  he  w^ho 
made  this  book  !"  Mr.  Boulter  assured  him,  he 
had  no  cause  to  censure  it  so  bitterly.  He 
bought  it,  but  said  he  would  not  read  it.  "  What 
will  you  do  with  it  then  ?''  said  the  friendly 
bookseller.  "  I  will  tear  and  burn  it,"  said  he. 
Mr.  Boulter  told  him  then,  he  should  not  have 
it.  Upon  this,  the  gentleman  promised  to  read 
it.  About  a  month  after,  he  went  again  to  the 
shop,  and  spoke  to  this  effect:  "I  most  heartily 
thank  you  for  putting  this  book  into  my  hands 
--I  bless  God  that  moved  you  to  do  it  —  bless- 
ed be  God  that  ever  I  came  into  your  shop!" 
and  then  he  bought  a  hundred  more  to  give  to 
those  who  could  not  buy  them.  How  mach 
happier,  my  young  friend,  is  he  now,  than  he 
w^ould  have  been  if  he  had  continued  the  same 
thoughtless  creature  as  he  was  when  he  entered 
the  bookseller's  shop  !     Now,  though  to  us  his 


TO  THE  YOUNG  READER.  1 1 

name  is  unknown,  we  have  reason  to  believe  he 
forms  one  of  the  company  above ;  but  had  he 
continued  to  waste  his  fleeting  years,  he  might, 
in  hopeless  misery,  have  been  wishing  in  vain 
for  those  precious  hours  he  had  wasted  on  plays, 
and  romances,  and  novels.  Had  he  slighted 
Mr.  Boulter's  advice,  he  might  now  in  hell  have 
been  lamenting  his  folly.  Yes,  think  that  while 
you  are  reading  this  little  book,  millions  of 
wretched  souls,  in  utter  darkness  and  despair, 
are  cursing  that  desperate  madness,  which  led 
them  to  turn  a  deaf  ear  to  such  friendly  warn- 
ings, once  addressed  to  them.  O  my  young 
friend,  I  beseech  you,  by  the  joys  of  saints  in 
heaven,  and  by  the  terrors  of  sinners  in  hell, 
trifle  not  with  this  affectionate  call ! 

Consider  further  —  if  you  were  going  a  jour- 
T^^Yy  you  would  make  preparations  for  it. 
Would  you  not,  if  going  to  travel  only  one  or 
two  hundred  miles?  and  were  yoa  thus  far  from 
home,  would  not  your  thoughts  be  often  there  ? 
and  if  obstructions  lay  in  the  way,  that  threat- 
ened to  prevent  your  ever  returning,  would  you 
not  exert  all  your  skill  and  power  to  remove 
them  ? .  And  are  you  indeed  only  a  stranger  and 
traveller  upon  earth  ?  Are  you  only  going  for- 
wards through  a  little  span  of  time  to  an  eternal 
world  ?  And  there  to  find  an  endless  abode, 
amidst  the  deepest  sorrow  or  the  most  perfect 
joy  ?  And  do  many  things  unite  to  hinder  you 
from  reaching  the  kingdom  of  heaven  ?  Is  this 
the  case?  Indeed  it  is.  And  will  you  go 
forward,  thoughtless  whither  you  are  going  ? 
Thoughtless  of  what  awaits  you  on  your  en- 
trance on  that  unseen  world,  that  unseen,  un- 


12  INTRODUCTORY  ADDRESS 

known,  endless  world  of  joy  unspeakable,  or  of 
grief  beyond  expression. 

Were  your  soul  intrusted  to  another's  care, 
would  you  not  complain  of  his  cmelty,  if  you 
saw  one  begging  him  to  seek  its  happiness,  and 
yet  perceived  him  careless  whether  you  were 
saved  or  lost?  Would  you  not  cry  out,  "O  un- 
happy creature  that  I  am,  to  have  my  eternal 
all  intrusted  to  a  wretch  so  cruel,  that  he  will 
see  me  sink  into  the  pit  of  destruction,  to  spend 
a  dreary  eternity  there,  sooner  than  give  himself 
any  care  or  concern  about  my  eternal  happi- 
ness !"  Would  such  be  your  complaint  in  this 
case  ?  O,  be  not  then,  by  carelessness,  more 
cruel  to  yourself ! 

While  therefore,  in  what  follows,  I  would  ad- 
dress you  with  affectionate  earnestness,  I  once 
more  entreat  you  seriously  to  regard  the  plain, 
but  important  truths  I  may  present  to  you ;  and 
forgive  me  that  I  am  not  earnest  enough,  when 
speaking  to  you  on  things  of  everlasting  conse- 
quence. Did  we  but  feel  the  thousandth  part  of 
the  worth  of  an  immortal  soul,  I  might  abhor 
myself  for  writing  so  coldly;  and  you  blush 
and  be  confounded,  at  having  ever  needed 
warning  to  seek  its  welfare.  It  is  impossible  to 
be  earnest  enough  with  you  :  if  you  ever  know 
the  worth  of  true  piety  you  will  be  convinced 
that  it  is.  Did  we  see  thousands  asleep  on  the 
brink  of  a  precipice,  and  some  every  moment 
falling  and  dying,  could  we  too  passionately 
endeavour  to  awaken  those  not  yet  undone  ?  O 
my  young  friend,  if  you  have  been  a  careless 
trifler  with  the  gospel  of  Christ,  danger  infinite- 
ly worse,  eternal  danger  threatens  you !  Awake, 
awake !  I  beseech  you,  awake !  Awake,  before  it 


TO  THE  YOUNG  READER.  13 

is  too  late !  before  eternity  seals  your  doom ! 
before  God  forgets  to  be  gracious  !  Awake  !  as 
in  the  sight  of  God  I  call  on  you,  awake  !  Act 
not  the  sluggard's  part !  say  not  a  little  more 
sleep,  a  little  more  slumber !  Close  not  your 
eyes  to  sleep  in  sin  again  !  lest 


you  should  shortly  (ee], 


The  sleeper  sleeps  no  more  in  hell. 

Awake !  1  beseech  you,  and  begin  to  mind  that 
one  thing,  which  is  so  needful  to  you ;  that  food 
is  not  half  so  needful  to  the  poor  wretch  perish- 
ing of  hunger,  nor  help  to  him  that  is  sinking 
in  the  sea,  or  scorching  in  the  flames !  Perhaps 
all  I  urge  to  gain  your  attention  is  urged  in 
vain.  And  shall  it  be  so  ?  Will  you  slight 
your  God,  and  make  your  own  destmction  sure  ? 
Will  you  be  a  more  cruel  enemy  to  yourself 
than  even  devils  themselves  could  possibly  be 
to  you  P  Alas  !  if  you  will,  what  must  be  your 
condition  soon?  But  let  me  hope  better  of  you, 
and  offer  you  one  request  —  look  up  to  God, 
and  join  with  me  in  the  prayer  that  follows; 
and  then  beg  his  mercy  on  youi'self. 

§  2.   A  PRAYER  FOR  THE  DIVINE  BLESSIKG  ON  THIS  BOOK. 

Ever  blessed  and  most  gracious  God,  thy 
smile  is  life,  thy  frown  is  death.  Thou  hast 
access  to  every  heart,  and  knowest  every  thought 
of  every  creature  in  thy  wide  dominions.  Look 
down  from  thine  eternal  throne,  and  teach  one 
of  the  meanest  of  thy  creatures  to  supplicate 
thy  mercies.  Without  thy  love  we  must  be 
poor  in  the  midst  of  plenty  ;  and  wretched  in 
the  midst  of  worldly  joy ;  whilst  in  thy  lo^^e  is 


14  PRAYER  FOR  A  DIVINE 

pleasure,  though  in  the  midst  of  pain ;  and 
wealth  in  the  midst  of  worldly  poverty.  He 
that  knows  thee  and  loves  thee,  though  he  die 
of  want  and  hunger,  is  infinitely  richer  and 
happier  than  the  king  who  rules  the  widest  em- 
pire, but  knows  thee  not.  Thou  art  our  only 
happiness,  yet  have  we  not  sought  good  in  thee. 
Thou  art  our  bliss,  yet  have  we  bid  thee  depart. 
Thou  hast  the  first  and  most  reasonable  claim 
upon  our  hearts,  yet  by  nature  those  hearts  are 
shut  against  thee.  But  if  thou  hast  blessed  him 
that  indites  this  prayer,  with  the  knowledge  of 
thyself,  bless  those  who  may  read  or  utter  it 
with  the  same  heavenly  knowledge.  Great  God, 
thou  only  knowest  what  is  man.  A  fallen  mi- 
serable wretch  ;  a  wilful  child  and  slave  of  sin  ; 
a  deserving  heir  of  wrath  and  woe.  Thy  heav- 
enly pity  has  opened  for  him  a  way  of  life,  but 
how  few  are  they  who  find  it !  and,  ah  !  no 
hand  but  thine  can  guide  the  sinner  into  that 
peaceful  path.  Hard  is  the  heart  thy  goodness 
does  not  melt  —  no  rock  so  hard.  Cold  is  the 
heart  thy  kindness  does  not  warm  —  no  ice  so 
cold.  Yet,  alas  !  great  God,  such  is  naturally 
every  human  heart.  Such  was  his,  whom  thou 
hast  inclined  to  write  this  little  volume ;  and 
such  his  who  reads  it.  But  thou  hast  power  to 
soften  the  rock,  and  melt  the  ice,  and  change 
the  heart ;  and  hast  thou  not  the  desire  ?  Mer- 
ciful Maker,  hast  thou  not  sworn,  ''  As  I  live  I 
have  no  pleasure  in  the  death  of  the  wicked,  but 
that  the  wicked  turn  from  his  way  and  live?" 
Thou  hast  said,  "Look  unto  me,  and  be  ye 
saved,  all  ye  ends  of  the  earth  f  and  thousands, 
now  in  glory,  have  experienced  thy  saving  pow- 
er.   The  feeblest  instruments  can  in  thy  hand 


BLESSING  ON  THIS  BOOK.  Id 

perform  the  mightiest  works.  A  pebble  and  a 
sling  can  bring  down  to  the  dust  thy  proudest 
foe.  Now  then,  compassionate  God,  display  thy 
power  to  save.  Grant  that  all  who  read  this 
book  may  yield  to  its  persuasions,  and  eamesdy 
regard  their  best  concerns.  By  feeble  instru- 
ments thou  hast  awakened  many  a  thoughtless 
heart ;  and  if  this  be  the  feeblest  of  the  feeble, 
yet  magnify  thy  power  and  mercy  by  making  it 
to  one  soul  (O,  might  it  be  to  many!)  a  solemn 
and  awakening  call.  Let  some  of  its  readers 
learn  the  end  for  which  life  was  given ;  and  O, 
let  them  not  sleep  the  sleep  of  sin  and  death, 
till  awakened  by  judgment  and  destruction! 
Gracious  God,  teach  them  that  life  is  not  given 
to  be  trifled  and  sinned  away.  By  the  power 
of  the  gospel,  subdue  the  stony  heart,  and 
break  the  rock  of  ice.  With  a  voice,  effectual 
as  that  which  shall  wake  the  dead,  bid  the  dead 
in  sin  arise  and  live.  Bid  the  young  sinner, 
that  may  read  this  volume,  flee  from  the  wrath 
to  come.  "O,  let  not  sin  and  death  resist  thee !" 
Let  not  Satan  successfully  oppose  thee.  Let 
not  the  stubborn  heart  refuse  thee  admittance. 
But,  God  of  mercy,  by  thy  conquering  Spirit, 
make  this  little  book,  which  in  itself  is  feeble  as 
a  reed,  powerful  to  lead  to  penitence,  prayer, 
and  conversion,  some  youthful  wanderer  from 
the  paths  of  peace.  O  thou  who  pitiest  wretch- 
ed men,  teach  the  young  readers  of  this  book 
to  pity  themselves !  Let  them  not  by  sin  and 
folly  make  even  immortality  a  curse.  Let  them 
not  despise  thy  gracious  calls,  nor  trample  on 
thy  dying  love.  Over  them  let  not  hell  rejoice, 
and  heaven  mourn;  but  let  the  angels  that 
dwell  in  thy  presence,  and  the  saints  that  sur- 


16    PRAYER  FOR  A  DIVINE  BLESSING  ON  THIS  BOOK. 

round  thy  throne,  exult  over  some  penitent' 
awakened  by  this  feeble  instrument;  some 
youth  embracing  the  gospel  of  thy  Son,  and 
finding  every  good  in  him.  Great  God,  grant 
this  request.  O,  let  the  sorrows  of  the  Saviour 
urge  it !  O,  let  the  intercession  of  the  Saviour 
obtain  it !  O,  let  the  influences  of  the  Spirit  ac- 
complish what  is  thus  desired !  for,  blessed  Lord, 
it  is  here  devoutly  acknowledged,  that,  without 
that  Spirit,  "  books  are  senseless  scrawls,  studies 
are  dreams,  learning  is  a  glow-worm,  and  wit  is 
"but  wantonness,  impertinence,  and  folly."  And 
O  may  it  seem  meet  to  thy  divine  Majesty,  to 
grant,  that  when  the  author  of  this  book  has 
finished  his  course,  that  then,  though  dead,  he 
may  yet  speak  in  the  following  pages ;  and  con- 
tinue to  call  on  the  young  to  "  remember  their 
Creator  in  the  days  of  their  youth  1"  If  this  be 
a  sinful  ambition,  compassionate  God,  for  Je- 
sus's  sake,  forgive  it ;  but  if  it  be  a  desire  wliich 
thy  Spirit  has  produced  in  the  writei-'s  heart,  for 
Jesus's  sake  grant  the  request.  Bestow  thy 
Spirit,  O  God  of  love!  Bestow  those  blessed 
influences,  O  thou  Saviour  of  mankind,  who 
hast  received  gifts  for  men  !  Bestow  them,  O 
Father  and  Lord  of  all,  and  bring  some  youth- 
ful sinner  to  the  feet  of  thy  crucified  Son ! 
Though  it  be  but  one,  grant  that  one  may  go  to 
him  for  life.  But  O,  again  permit  the  petition, 
that  if  it  please  thee,  the  persuasions  and  mo- 
titfes  for  early  piety  here  presented  to  the  young, 
may  be  effectual  to  the  conversion  of  many; 
and  that  many  who  shall  read  them  may  be  led 
to  Jesus,  and  be  found  to  have  their  names 
written  in  the  book  of  life,  when  time  shall  have 


PRAYER  FOR  THE  READER.         17 

erased  every  name  that  is  written  even  upon 
rocks  below. 

And  now,  O  God  of  grace,  hear  this  suppli- 
cation, and  teach  the  young  reader  with  sincer- 
ity of  heart,  to  join  in  that  which  follows.  Grant 
this,  great  God,  for  his  sake  who  died  on  Cal- 
vary below,  who  lives,  and  reigns,  and  pleads 
for  man  above ;  and  whose  is  the  kingdom,  the 
power,  and  the  glory,  for  ever  and  for  ever. 
Amen. 


§  3.  A  PRAYER  FOR  YOUNG  PERSONS,  IMPLORING  THE 
DIVINE  BLESSING  UPON  THEilSELYES  "WHILE  READING 
THIS  BOOK. 

Great  God,  thou  seest  me,  a  young  and 
thoughtless  creature.  Young  as  I  am  in  years, 
yet  far  have  I  gone  in  sin.  So  far  that  thou 
mightest  justly  have  said  with  respect  to  me, 
"  Cut  down  that  cumberer  of  the  ground  ;'^  and 
had  that  dreadful  sentence  been  long  ago  pro- 
nounced and  executed,  I  must  have  owned  it 
just.  My  years  are  few,  but  my  sins  are  many; 
more  numerous  are  they  than  my  days  or  hours, 
more  countless  than  the  hairs  of  ray  head. 
Alas !  blessed  God,  what  a  part  have  I  acted  I 
I  have  received  life  from  thee,  and  employed  it 
in  neglecting,  and  sinning  against  thee.  I 
might  have  died  at  my  birth,  have  seen  the  light 
and  closed  my  eyes  in  death,  but  thou  didst 
watch  over  me  in  infancy,  didst  guard  me  in 
childhood,  and  hast  brought  me  to  the  blooming 
days  of  youth ;  and  how  have  I  requited  thee? 
Wretch  that  I  have  been  to  requite  thy  love 
with  ingratitude,  thy  goodness  with  neglect 
Distracted  creature  that  I  have  been,  to  s}>end 


18         PRAYER  FOR  THE  READER. 

the  flower  of  my  years  in  grieving  thee,  my  best 
friend ;  in  pleasing  Satan,  my  infernal  foe ;  and 
in  undoing  my  own  immortal  soul.  O,  make 
me  sensible  of  my  sin ;  teach  me  to  bewail  and 
loathe  my  folly ;  and  help  me  to  forsake  it ! 
Now  let  me  begin  to  live  that  life,  which  on  a 
dying  bed  I  shall  wish  to  have  lived.  Merciful 
God,  thou  hast  spared  me  in  mercy;  let  me  not 
appear  to  have  been  spared  in  vain;  but  let  my 
life,  which  has  been  too  long  spent  without  thee, 
now  be  devoted  to  thee.  Pour  out  thy  Spirit 
on  me,  for  he  alone  can  teach  me  what  thou 
art.  Give  me  to  thy  Son,  and  thy  Son  to  me. 
Thou  art  permitting  me  in  this  little  book  to 
read  a  serious  invitation  to  early  piety.  Teach 
me  to  regard  the  truths  I  read ;  and  may  I  read 
them  with  a  devout  and  attentive  mind.  May 
the  persuasions  and  motives  here  presented  to 
me,  reach  my  heart ;  and  may  I,  when  I  reach 
the  conclusion  of  this  book,  be  no  longer  the 
thoughtless  creature  I  have  hitherto  been  ;  but 
may  I  be  found  to  have  chosen  that  good  part, 
•which  none  can  take  away.  But,  ah !  great 
God !  what  am  1  that  I  should  speak  of  reach- 
ing the  conclusion  even  of  this  little  book! 
Though  I  have  read  its  first  pages,  I  know  not 
that  I  shall  live  to  read  its  last.  Young  and 
vigorous  as  I  may  now  be,  perhaps,  before  I 
can  reach  its  end,  my  time  may  be  finished,  my 
eyes  closed  in  death,  and  my  soul  called  to  meet 
thee,  my  long  neglected  and  much  injured  God. 
O  then,  teach  me  to  be  wise  without  delay! 
Teach  me  what  religion  is,  and  enable  me  to 
choose  it  as  my  portion.  Teach  me  what  I  am, 
and  lead  me  to  Jesus  Christ,  thy  once  crucified 
but  tiow  exalted  Son,     O,  make  me  thine !     O 


PLAN  OF  THE  BOOK.  19 

Saviour,  make  me  thine!  O  God  of  glory,  make 
me  thine  without  delay,  and  teach  me  all  thy 
will!  Then,  whatever  be  the  instrument  that 
awakens  my  soul,  thine  shall  be  the  praise,  for 
it  is  thy  work,  and  the  glory  is  justly  thine. 

Hear  me,  O  thou  most  merciful  Father,  and 
wash  my  sins  away  in  atoning  blood ;  hear  me, 
and  let  my  youth  from  this  day  be  devoted  to 
thee;  hear  me,  for  the  sake  of  thy  beloved  Son; 
and  now  to  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Spirit,  as  to 
the  King  eternal,  immortal,  invisible,  the  only 
wise  God,  be  glory  and  dominion,  world  with- 
out end.     Amen. 

§  4.  Having,  my  young  friend,  sought  God^s 
blessing,  allow  me  now  to  explain  to  you  the 
plan  I  design  to  follow  in  this  little  work.  As 
my  object  is  to  persuade  you  to  devote  your 
youth  to  God,  it  is  needful  for  me  to  address 
you  as  one  whom  I  may  suppose  to  be  negli- 
gent of  that  best  of  blessings,  humble  piety.  I 
shall,  therefore,  endeavour  first  to  show  you 
what  is  your  natural  condition,  (Chap.  2).  Af- 
ter this,  I  would  entreat  you  to  accompany  me 
while  I  descend  more  into  particulars  (C.  3), 
and  set  before  you  some  of  the  more  common 
sins  of  youth.  I  would  then  point  you  to  the 
Lamb  of  God ;  and  would  represent  to  you  the 
nature  of  true  piety  (C.  4).  Pursuing  this  sub- 
ject, I  would  (C.  5)  affectionately  warn  you 
against  those  delusive  supports,  on  which  many 
rest  to  their  eternal  ruin.  I  would  then  urge  on 
you  the  infinite  importance  of  early  piety,  by 
showing  you  (C.  6)  the  worth  of  your  soul.  By 
referring  you  (C.  7)  to  the  advice  of  the  eternal 
God.  By  displaying  to  you  (C,  8)  the  love  of 
God  and  Christ.     By  setting  before  you  (C.  9) 


20  FLAN  OF  THE  BOOK. 

ifhe  peculiar  acceptableness  of  early  piety.  By 
enumeratino^  (C.  10)  some  of  its  numberless  ad- 
vantages. By  glancing  (C.  11)  at  some  of  its 
pleasures.  By  conducting  you  (C.  12)  to  take 
a  view  of  the  happy  conclusion  of  a  life  of  re- 
ligion;  and  attempting  (C.  13)  an  imperfect 
description  of  that  heaven  and  that  eternity  to 
which  religion  conducts  the  soul.  But  fearing, 
that  in  many  instances,  all  the  pleasing  motives 
which  these  considerations  yield,  may  be  of  no 
avail ;  I  shall  then  present  to  you  reasons  for 
religion,  drawn  from  very  opposite  sources.  I 
would  here  show  you  (C.  14)  that  while  you 
neglect  early  piety  you  are  destitute  of  all  real 
good.  I  would  describe  to  you  (C.  15)  the  un- 
kindness  and  ingratitude  visible  in  such  a 
course  to  God,  and  its  cruelty  to  yourself.  I 
would  show  (C.  16)  the  vanity  of  youth;  and 
(C.  17)  the  sorrows  and  dangers  that  attend  the 
way  of  transgressors.  I  would  remind  you 
(C.  18)  of  the  approach,  to  the  most  careless,  of 
judgment  and  eternity ;  and  (C.  19)  would 
glance  at  the  dismal  abodes  of  eternal  wretched- 
ness to  which  youthful  sins  would  lead  you.  I 
then  (C.  20),  if  you  have  not  chosen  true  relig- 
ion, would  affectionately  beseech  you  to  choose 
it  without  delay.  But,  knowing  how  many  ob- 
jections are  started  against  early  piety,  I  pro- 
pose (C.  21)  to  answer  some  of  the  principal  of 
these.  Having  noticed  these,  permit  me  to  oc- 
cupy a  few  more  lines  (C.  22),  in  entreating  you, 
without  delay,  to  make  your  choice ;  and  then 
(C.  23)  to  conclude  the  whole  with  a  few  direc- 
tions, and  some  brief  addresses.  May  God 
make  this  little  book  promote  his  glory,  and 
your  eternal  benefit.  —  Amen. 


21 
CHAPTER  II. 

THE  FALLEN,  GUILTY,  AND  RUINED  STATE  OF  MAN. 

§1.1  NOW,  my  young"  friend,  address  you  on 
a  subject  unspeakably  important;  as  no  hope 
can  be  entertained  of  doing-  you  lasting-  good, 
till  you  feel  the  truth  of  the  statement,  con- 
tained in  this  chapter ;  but  if  you  be  led  by 
the  Divine  Spirit,  to  perceive  that  this  chapter 
describes  your  own  condition,  there  will  then  be 
a  pleasing  prospect  of  your  becoming  acquaint- 
ed with  those  things  which  belong  to  your  ever- 
lasting peace. 

In  reference  to  bodily  disorders  it  is  said,  that 
to  know  our  disease  is  half  the  cure:  the  same 
observation  will  apply  to  the  disorders  of  the 
soul.  If  one  deeply  infected  with  a  fever,  or 
the  plague,  were  so  deluded,  as  to  believe  him- 
self enjoying  perfect  health,  or  to  think  himself, 
at  worst,  but  slightly  disordered,  and  therefore 
to  neglect  the  means  for  restoring  health,  how 
soon  would  death  and  the  grave  convince  him 
of  his  sad  mistake !  Such  delusion  is  seldom 
met  with  ;  but  an  infinitely  more  dreadful  and 
more  mischievous  delusion,  is  as  common  as  the 
light  of  day.  Perhaps  you  labour  under  its 
baleful  influence.  Perhaps,  if  your  life  has 
been  unstained  by  flagrant  enormities,  you 
imagine  yourself  a  good-hearted  young  man,  or 
an  innocent  young  woman.  Your  sins  are  soft- 
ened down  under  the  name  of  youthful  follies. 
The  deep  corruption  of  your  nature  is  totally 
hidden  from  your  view.     You  are  in  danger  of 

C  3 


22  DELUSION  RESPECTING  MAN'S 

dying  eternally  of  the  worst  of  plagues,  and  yet 
thinking  that  all  is  well.  You  are  exposed  to 
the  wrath  of  a  justly  offended  God,  and  saying 
to  yourself,  "  Peace,  peace." 

§  2.  God  forbid  that  I  should  wish  to  repre- 
sent your  state,  by  nature,  as  worse  than  he  de- 
scribes it  in  his  word.  If  I  had  the  wish  I 
should  scarcely  have  the  power.  Be  patient 
then,  and  hear  the  worst.  What  are  you  ?  If 
guided  by  the  opinions  of  a  poor  blind  world, 
you  might  reply,  "A  frail  imperfect  creature, 
guilty  of  some  sins,  but  yet  with  so  many  good 
dispositions  and  good  actions  to  counterbalance 
them,  that  I  may  reasonably  hope  for  happiness 
and  heaven."  My  dear  young  friend,  are  these, 
or  such  as  these,  your  views  of  yourself?  If 
they  be,  no  wretched  madman,  bound  with 
chains,  crowning  himself  with  straw,  and  imag- 
ining himself  a  mighty  and  happy  monarch, 
was  ever  more  deceived.  I  repeat  the  question. 
What  are  you  ?  Let  the  word  of  the  God  of 
truth  reply.  And  what  is  its  answer?  It  teach- 
es you  that  you  are  corrupt  and  polluted,  and 
at  variance  with  your  God ;  having  all  the 
powers  of  your  soul  disordered ;  and  exposed, 
justly  exposed,  to  everlasting  ruin;  and  so  en- 
tirely depraved  and  undone,  that  without  a 
change  as  great  as  a  second  birth,  you  cannot 
possibly  see  the  kingdom  of  God. 

Perhaps  you  exclaim,*  "  Shocking  doctrine !" 
whilst,  full  of  indignation,  you  are  almost  ready 
to  throw  this  book  aside,  before  you  have  glanc- 
ed at  the  proofs  afforded  in  scripture,  for  the 
assertions  I  have  made.  If  this  be  the  case,  f 
beseech  you  to  remember  I  appeal  to  scripture, 

»  A  few  lines,  with  a  little  alteration,  from  Fletcher's  Appeal, 


FALLEN  STATE,  COMMON  AND  RUINOi:S.        23 

not  to  your  passions;  to  the  declarations  of 
God,  not  to  worldly  delusions.  You  may  cry 
out  at  the  sight  of  a  shroud,  a  coffin,  a  grave, 
"Shocking  objects!"  but  your  loudest  exclama- 
tions will  not  lessen  the  awful  realities,  by  which 
many  have  happily  been  shocked  into  a  timely 
preparation  for  approaching  death. 

Refuse  not  then  to  listen  to  the  declarations 
of  God,  on  this  momentous  subject:  to  refuse 
to  hearken  is  to  seal  your  own  destruction. 

§  3.  His  word  assures  you,  that  every  human 
being  is  born  into  this  world  with  a  corrupt  and 
sinful  nature.  —  God  formed  man  "  in  his  own 
image,"  innocent  and  holy ;  but  fallen  man 
begat  a  son  "  in  his  own  likeness,"  corrupt  and 
fallen  like  himself.  The  consequence  is,  man 
comes  into  this  world  with  a  sinful  nature ;  for 
"who  can  bring  a  clean  thing  out  of  an  un- 
clean? not  one."  Such  is  the  exceeding  sinful- 
ness of  human  nature,  that  the  word  of  God 
strongly  describes  it,  by  declaring  that  we  are 
"shapen  in  iniquity  and  conceived  in  sin." 
"Man  is  a  transgressor  from  the  womb,  and 
goes  astray  speaking  lies."  The  devil  is  else- 
where called  the  father  of  lies ;  and  one  of  the 
earliest  tokens  of  human  depravity  is,  that  a 
disposition  to  commit  that  abominable  sin  so 
soon  appears  in  little  children.  —  Man  is  bom 
untamed  and  rude  as  a  "  wild  ass's  colt."  "  Fool- 
ishness is  bound  even  in  the  heart  of  a  child." 
"The  imagination  of  man's  heart  is  evil  from 
his  youth,''  "  is  only  evil  and  that  continually ;" 
"  he  is  abominable  and  filthy,  and  drinketh  in 
iniquity  like  water."    As  he  advances  in  life,  do 

Gen.  V.  1.  V  3.    Job,  xiv.  4.    Ps.  li.  5.  Iviii.  3.    Job,  xi.  12.    Pror. 
Xxii.  1-5.    Gen,  viil.  21.  vi,  5^    Job,  xv.  16. 


24  SCRIPTURAL  ACCOUNT  OF  MAN'S 

his  corruptions  weaken  ?  The  words  of  the 
apostle  answer.  No  :  "We  ourselves,  also,  were 
sometimes  foolish,  disobedient,  deceived,  serv- 
ing divers  lusts  and  pleasures,  living  in  malice 
and  envy,  hateful  and  hating  one  another." 
"  God  looked  down  from  heaven  upon  the  chil- 
dren of  men,  to  see  if  there  were  any  that  did 
understand."  And  what  is  the  dreadful  result 
of  this  examination  ?  "  Every  one  of  them  is 
gone  back;  they  are  altogether  become  filthy; 
there  is  none  that  doeth  good,  no,  not  one." 

§  4.  This  sinfulness  of  your  nature,  my  young 
friend,  is  not  partial;  it  is  not  confined  to  some 
of  your  powers  or  faculties ;  but,  like  a  mortal 
poison,  spreads  through  and  pollutes  the  whole. 
"The  whole  head  is  sick,  and  the  whole  heart 
faint;  from  the  sole  of  the  foot  even  to  the  head, 
there  is  no  soundness  in  it,  but  wounds,  and 
bruises,  and  putrefying  sores."  The  heart, 
which  should  be  the  best  part  of  man,  is  now 
the  worst.  "The  heart  is  deceitful  above  all 
things,  and  desperately  wicked."  Such  are  the 
windings  of  its  corruption,  that  no  eye  but  that 
of  Jehovah  can  trace  them  out.  It  is  full  of 
evil ;  not  merely  tainted  but  filled  with  sin ;  and 
"madness  dwells  in  it."  From  this  corrupt 
fountain,  flows  as  corrupt  a  stream.  "Out  of 
the  heart  proceed  evil  thoughts,  murders,  adul- 
teries, fornication,  theft,  false  witness,  blasphe- 
mies, covetousness,  wickedness,"  or  malevolence, 
"  deceit,  lasciviousness,"  or  immodesty,  "  envy, 
pride,  foolishness,"  or  levity.  Not  merely  is 
the  heart  thus  polluted,  "  but  the  lusts  of  men 
war  in  their  members."     The  eyes,  the  ears,  the 

Tit.  iii.  3,     Ps.  liii.  2.     Is.    i.  5,  6.     Jer,  xvii-  9.     Ecc,  is,  3 
Matt.  XV.  19,    Mark,  vii.  22,    Jam.  iv,  1. 


FALLEN  AND  SINFUL  STATE.  25 

hands,  the  feet,  the  lips,  are  all  defiled  by  differ- 
ent sins ;  and  the  tongue,  that  member  which 
was  formed  peculiarly  for  its  Creator's  praise, 
"  is  now  a  w  orld  of  iniquity  ;  and  is  set  on  fire 
of  hell/'  Man  is  elsewhere  represented  as  born 
in  that  state  which  is  called  flesh;  a  name  ap- 
plied to  this  corruption  of  our  nature.  "That 
which  is  born  of  the  flesh,  is  flesh"  And  "the 
works  of  the  flesh,"  says  an  inspired  apostle, 
"are  manifest,  which  are  these,  adultery,  forni- 
cation, undeanness,  lasciviousness,  idolatry, 
witchcraft,  hatred,  variance,  emulations,  wrath, 
strife,  seditions,  heresies,  envyings,  murders, 
drunkenness,  revellings,  and  such  like."  Such 
is  man  when  the  corruptions  of  his  nature  have 
opportunity  for  appearing ;  and  has  he  any 
deeds  of  righteousness  to  counterbalance  this 
exceeding  sinfulness  ?  O,  let  the  evangelical 
prophet  answer :  "  We  are  all  as  an  unclean 
thing;  and  all  our  righteousnesses  are  as  filthy 
rags;  and  we  all  do  fade  as  a  leaf;  and  our 
iniquities,  like  the  wind,  have  taken  us  away." 
So  far  are  our  best  actions,  in  our  natural  state, 
from  helping,  that  even  they  are  polluted  and 
loathsome;  and  sin,  like  a  whirlwind  unop- 
posed, sweeps  us  on  to  perdition. 

§  5.  But  I  foresee  an  objection,  which  some 
may  make  to  parts  of  this  statement. 

Perhaps  you,  my  young  friend,  exclaim,  "I 
have  not  committed  many  of  the  sins  here 
named."  Perhaps  not.  I  am  here  showing 
you  your  own  lost  condition,  by  referring  you 
to  those  sad  fruits  which  your  depraved  heart, 
unless  by  one  means  or  other  prevented,  would 
produce;    and  which  in  millions  of  cases  have 

Jam,  iii.  6.    John,  iii.    6.    Gal.  v.  19,  21.    Is.  Ixiv.  6. 


26  OBJECTION  AiNSWERED. 

been  produced.  The  restraints  of  education,  or 
other  things,  may  in  you  have  checked  some  of 
these  corruptions ;  but  this  makes  no  alteration 
as  to  your  natural  sinfulness.  If  in  spring  you 
were  to  cast  one  handful  of  wheat  into  the 
ground,  and  lay  another  by  in  a  drawer,  would 
you,  in  autumn,  say  of  that  which  had  been  laid 
by,  this  is  not  wheat,  because  it  might  not 
have  put  forth  the  blade  and  the  eai  ?  No,  it 
would  still  be  wheat,  still  be  of  the  same  nature 
as  that  scattered  in  the  ground,  though  its  situ- 
ation had  prevented  its  growing,  and  producing 
fruit  like  that.  So  it  is  with  human  nature : 
in  some  situations  its  corruptions  may  not  be 
so  visible  as  in  others;  in  some  situations  those 
corruptions  may  not  have  the  same  nourishment 
as  in  others ;  or  may  meet  with  more  restraints ; 
like  the  grain  of  corn,  which  is  buried  so  deep 
that  it  can  scarcely  push  its  blade  above  the 
surface  of  the  soil.  All  this  may  take  place. 
All  this  does  take  place,  in  thousands  of  instan- 
ces ;  but  human  nature,  in  its  radical  corrup- 
tion, is  every  where  the  same;  like  wheat  which 
is  wheat  still,  whether  it  vegetates  in  the  furrow, 
ripens  in  the  ear,  or  is  treasured  up  in  the  barn. 

§  6.  Allow  me,  my  young  friend,  after  this 
general  view,  to  descend  into  particulars. 

The  word  of  God,  in  describing  your  natural 
condition,  represents  it  as  so  extremely  sinful, 
that  while  in  it  nothing  which  you  do  can  be 
pleasing  to  God.  "  They  that  are  in  the  flesh'' 
(under  the  government  of  that  corruption  which 
is  named  flesh),  "cannot  please  God.''  So  en- 
lire  is  this  corruption,  that  an  apostle  confesses, 
"  I  know  that  in  me,  that  is,  in  my  flesh,  dwell- 

Rom.  viii.  8.  vii.  18. 


MAN'S  BLINDNESS.  27 

etb  no  good  thing."  So  completely  is  the  soul 
indisposed  by  it  for  all  that  is  really  good,  that 
men  are  "  dead  in  trespasses  and  sins."  How 
awful  is  their  delusion,  who  are  strangers  to 
real  religion,  and  yet  flatter  themselves  that 
there  is  something  good  in  them  to  recommend 
them  to  God.  Their  best  actions  flow  from  cor- 
rupt motives,  and  are  in  his  sight  but  a  kind  of 
splendid  sins. 

§  7.  Man  is  not  only  so  extremely  sinful  that 
he  cannot  please  God,  but  so  blhid,  that  he  is 
entirely  ignorant  of  what  is  acceptable  in  his 
Makei*'s  sight.  Our  Lord  himself  declares,  that 
the  design  of  his  gospel  is  to  open  the  eyes  of 
men,  "  and  to  turn  them  from  darkness  to  light, 
and  from  the  power  of  Satan  unto  God."  He 
assures  us  that  he  came  to  "preach  recovering 
of  sight  to  the  blind."  His  most  distinguished 
apostle  affirms,  "that  even  the  followers  of  Christ 
were  sometime  darkness;"  that  he  and  they  had 
been  ''delivered  from  the  pov\'er  of  darkness;" 
and  humbly  confesses,  "we  ourselves  also  were 
sometime  foolish,  disobedient,  deceived;"  being 
blinded  by  those  false  hopes  and  delusions, 
which  blind  thousands  now.  So  destructive  is 
this  blindness,  that  men  "  know  not  the  way  of 
peace."  So  entire,  that  the  sullen  ox  and  stupid 
ass  know  more  of  their  masters,  than  unenlight- 
ened man  of  his  God.  "The  ox  knoweth  his 
owner,  and  the  ass  his  master's  crib;  but  Israel 
doth  not  know,  my  people  do  not  consider."  So 
awful  is  this  blindness,  that  "the  natural  man 
receiveth  not  the  things  of  the  Spirit  of  God  ; 
for  they  are  foolishness  unto  him."     Even  "the 

Eph.  2.  1,     Acts,  xxvi.  18.     Luke,  iv.  18.     £ph.  v.  8.     Col.  i.  13. 
Titiii.  3.    Rom.iii.  17.    Is.  i.  3.    1  Cor.  ii.  14.  i.  18 


28  MAN'S  SUBJECTION  TO  SATAN. 

preaching  of  the  cross  itself,  is,  to  them  that 
perish,  foolishness."  And  so  uilful,  that  "  men 
love  darkness  rather  than  light,  because  their 
deeds  are  evil ;  and  proceeding  in  their  career  of 
madness,  "  fools  make  a  mock  at  sin."  Is  it  pos- 
sible, my  young  friend,  to  give  a  sadder  repre- 
sentation of  the  natural  blindness  of  the  heart, 
than  these  passages  give  ?  Sin,  which  God  de- 
clares to  be  the  cause  of  misery,  death,  and  hell, 
men  treat  as  a  matter  of  foolish  rjdicule  and 
mad  laughter;  while  that  glorious  plan  of  sal- 
vation, wliich  so  magnifies  the  wisdom  and  love 
of  God,  that  it  astonishes  the  angels  of  heaven, 
even  this  is  folly  in  the  view  of  poor  unconvert- 
ed men.  The  man  who  should  laugh  at  a  thou- 
sand swords  aimed  at  his  defenceless  head,  or 
pointed  at  his  naked  breast,  were  wiser  than  he 
who  laughs  at  sin.  Less  foolish  were  the 
■wretch  who  should  treat  as  folly,  a  plan  to  de- 
liver him  from  the  condemned  cell,  the  halter, 
the  gibbet,  or  the  fire,  than  he  who  thus  treats 
the  wondrous  plan  which  God  has  devised,  to 
save  him  from  the  flames  of  hell. 

§  8.  Shall  I  stop  here  ?  The  word  of  God 
does  not.  The  sacred  writers  continue  the  de- 
plorable account  of  fallen  man,  by  declaring 
that  he  is  not  only  polluted  and  blind,  but  un- 
der the  influence  of  the  worst  foe  of  God  and 
man.  —  The  devil,  on  account  of  his  extensive 
reign,  is  called  by  them,  "  the  god  of  this 
world;"  '*the  prince  of  the  power  of  the  air;" 
and  he  and  the  wicked  spirits  that  have  fallen 
with  him,  "  are  the  rulers  of  the  darkness  of 
this  world."     The  ungodly  are  of  their  "father 

John,  iii.  19.     ProT.  sir.    9.      2  Cor.  iv.  4.     Eph.  ii.  2.  vi.  12. 


MAN'S  SUBJECTION  TO  SATAN\  29 

the  devil;"  "he  works  in  the  hearts  of  the  chil- 
dren of  disobedience;"  "he  takes  away  the  seed 
that  is  sown  in  the  thoughtless  heart ;"  he  blinds 
the  minds  of  the  irreligious;  and  where  the 
*' gospel  is  hid,  it  is  hid"  through  his  hellish 
influence.  They  are  "in  the  snare  of  the  devil," 
and  are  "led  captive  by  him  at  his  will."  They 
who  neglect  religion  to  follow  the  world,  are 
"  turned  aside  after  Satan ;"  and  lest  you  should 
imagine  that  these  deplorable  assertions  refer 
merely  to  the  most  openly  ungodly,  you  are  as- 
sured by  the  divine  Saviour  himself,  that  the 
design  of  his  gospel  is  to  bring  men  "  from  the 
power  of  Satan  unto  God  ;"  and  that  "  the 
tares,"  or  all  who  are  not  in  reality  the  children 
of  God,  "  are  the  children  of  the* wicked  one." 
The  apostle  Paul  confesses  that  he  and  his 
Christian  friends  once  were  of  this  number;  the 
apostle  John  as  solemnly  teaches  us,  that  all 
men  are  either  the  children  of  God  or  of  the 
devil ;  and  that  those  who  do  not  practise  righ- 
teousness, and  cherish  love,  "  are  not  of  God." 

Adding  other  awful  particulars  to  this  mourn- 
ful description :  the  Son  of  God  complains, 
that  they  "  will  not  come  to  him  for  life  ;"  that 
they  "  love  darkness  rather  than  light ;"  that 
they  hated  him,  and  will  hate  his  friends. 

§  9.  To  give  a  darker  finish  to  this  dreadful 
picture,  the  word  of  eternal  truth  declares,  that 
men  are  "  lovers  of  pleasures  more  than  lovers 
of  God  ;"  are  "  alienated  from  the  life  of  God, 
through  the  ignorance  that  is  in  them  ;"  are 
"  alienated  from  God  and  enemies  in  their 
minds,  by  wicked  works ;"  that  they  "  know  not 

Jobn,  viii.  44.  Eph.  ii.  2.  Matt.  xiii.  19-2  Cor.  iv.  4.  2  Tim.  ii.  26. 
1  Tim.  V.  15.  Acts,  xxvi.  2S.  Matt.  xiii.  23.  Eph.  ii.  3.  1  John,  iii.  10, 
John,  V.  40.  iii.  19.  xv.  18.    2  Tim.  iii  4.    Eph.  iv.  18. 


30  MAN  ALIENATED  FROM  GOD. 

God ;"  are  "  haters  of  God  ;"  are  "  strangers 
and  foreigners  to  him  ;'*  and  "  without  God  in 
the  world."  Hence,  in  a  natural  state,  "there 
is  none  that  seeketh  after  God;"  "there  is  no 
fear  of  God  before  their  eyes."  By  their  lives, 
even  if  they  dare  not  utter  it  with  their  lips, 
they  say  unto  God,  "depart  from  us,  for  we  de- 
sire not  the  knowledge  of  thy  ways;"  and  by 
choosing  worldly  vanities  in  preference  to  the 
favour  and  ^ervice  of  God,  they,  in  fact,  utter 
the  dreadfursentence,  "What  is  the  Almighty 
that  we  should  serve  him  ?  and  what  profit 
should  we  have  if  we  pray  unto  him  ?"  The 
apostle  Paul,  in  giving  the  darkest  touch  to  this 
dreadful  picture,  declares,  that  "the  carnal  mind 
is  enmity  against  God."  A  more  awful  de- 
scription of  fallen  man  cannot  be  given,  than 
that  contained  in  these  few  words.  The  carnal 
mind  is  strictly  the  earthly  or  sensual  mind  ; 
that  which  the  moral  and  the  profligate  alike 
possess,  while  loving  the  world  and  the  things 
of  the  world.  It  is  not  an  expression  applying 
merely  to  the  most  abandoned,  but  one  that 
applies  to  every  human  being,  let  his  outward 
conduct  be  ever  so  fair,  whose  mind  cleaves  to 
this  earthly  clod.  The  miser  as  well  as  the 
spendthrift;  the  pleasing  young  man  that  is  fol- 
lowing earthly  objects  with  all  his  heart;  the 
engaging  young  woman  whose  thoughts  are 
fixed  on  fashion,  dress,  and  gaiety,  as  much 
possess  the  carnal  mind,  as  does  the  shameless 
profligate,  whose  conduct  they  abhor ;  and  the 
sober  tradesman,  whose  plans  and  schemes  all 
refer  to  this  world,  is  as  much  under  its  influ- 
ence as  either  of  the  others.     All  these  have  a 

Thes.  ir.  5.   Ro.  i.  30.  Eph.  ii.  19.  Ro.  iii.  11.  Job,  xxi.  14.  Ro.  viii.  7. 


A  REBEL,  UTTERLY  RUINED.  31 

worldly  or  carnal  mind,  and  what  is  it?  enmity 
against  God,  enmity  itself.  Can  worse  be  said 
of  devils?  have  even  they  a  mind  more  inimical 
to  God  than  the  carnal  mind  ?  what  can  be 
worse  than  that  which  is  enmity  itself?  The 
Most  High  calls  on  heaven  and  earth  to  wonder 
at  the  horrid  crimes  of  men ;  and  declares,  "  I 
have  nourished  and  brought  up  children,  and 
they  have  rebelled  against  me."  The  Son  of 
God  represents  man  as  a  wicked  prodigal,  who 
has  treated  with  the  basest  neglect,  ingrati- 
tude, and  cruelty,  the  best  and  most  affectionate 
of  parents.  A  prodigal  so  destitute  of  filial 
love,  that  he  acts  the  part  of  a  madman,  and 
prefers  the  swinish  husks  in  an  enemy's  coun- 
try to  the  comforts  of  his  father's  house.  And 
one  of  the  best  of  men  confesses,  "  We  have 
sinned,  and  have  committed  iniquity,  and  have 
done  wickedly,  and  have  rebelled,  even  by  de- 
parting from  thy  precepts,  and  thy  judgments." 
§  10.  The  word  of  God  further  shows  the 
depth  of  our  fall,  and  the  malignant  poison  of 
our  sin,  by  the  display  which  it  makes  of  the 
greatness  of  the  remedy  provided  for  our  deliv- 
erance. No  less  a  person  than  the  Son  of  God, 
the  Lord  of  all  things,  appeared  as  a  Saviour. 
More  was  done  to  redeem  than  to  create  the 
world  ;  the  Most  High  thus  showing  that  re- 
demption was  a  more  difficult  work  than  crea- 
tion. We  are  also  assured,  that  there  is  a  dis- 
play of  the  exceeding  greatness  of  God's  power  in 
the  conversion  of  a  sinner ;  that  all  who  are 
saved  are  "bom  of  the  Spirit;"  that  "all  things 
are  of  God ;"  and  that  it  is  God  that  prepares 
the  soul  for  death  and  eternity.    But  my  young 

Is.  i.  2.  Luke,  xv.  19.  Dan.  is.  o.  Eph.  i.  19.  John,  iii.  3,  2  Cor.  v.  1& 


32  ALL  MANKIND 

friend,  would  all  this  be  requisite  if  man  were 
able  to  deliver  himself?  would  he  need  the  help 
of  an  almighty  arm  if  he  were  not  in  himself 
deeply  fallen  and  utterly  helpless  ? 

§  11.  An  important  inquiry  connected  with 
this  subject,  is  —  are  we  to  understand  this  sad 
description,  as  a  description  of  mankind  at 
large,  or  only  of  the  worst  part  of  the  human 
race?  Let  the  word  of  God  give  the  reply. 
Hear  its  solemn  answer.  "Death  has  passed 
upon  all  men,  because  all  have  sinned."  "The 
scripture  hath  concluded  all  under  sin."  "We 
all,  like  sheep,  have  gone  astray,  we  have  turned 
everij  one  to  his  oivn  way."  None  then,  it  seems, 
naturally  incline  their  feet  to  the  ways  of  God. 
"  Each  wanders  in  a  different  way ;  but  all  the 
downward  road."  "The  whole  world  lieth  in 
wickedness  ;"  lies  like  a  wounded  and  fallen 
captive,  the  helpless  prey  of  an  infernal  foe. 
"All  have  sinned,  and  come  short  of  the  glory 
of  God."  "  They  are  all  gone  aside ;  they  are 
all  together  become  filthy ;  there  is  none  that 
doeth  good,  no,  not  one."  "They  are  all  under 
sin,  there  is  none  righteous,  no,  not  one." 
"There  is  not  a  just  man  upon  earth  that  doeth 
good  and  sinneth  not."  "  If  one  died  for  all, 
then  were  all  dead''  So  completely  do  sin  and 
man  accord,  that  a  course  of  sin  and  rebellion 
is  termed  the  "  course  of  this  world ;"  and  these 
humiliating  truths  are  taught  us,  that  "every 
mouth  may  be  stopped,  and  all  the  world  be- 
come guilty  before  God.  And  who  shall  re- 
fuse to  submit,  for  who  can  say,  "  I  have  made 
my  heart  clean,  I  am  pure  from  sin  ?" 

Rom.  V.  12.  Gal.  iii.  22.  Is.  liii.  G.  1  John,  v.  19.  Rom.  iii.  23. 
Ps.  xiv.  3.  Rom.  iii.  9,  10.  Eccles.  vii.  20.  2  Cor.  v.  14.  Eph.  ii.  2. 
Rom.  iii.  19.    Piov.  xx.  19. 


FALLEN  AND  DEPRAVED.  33 

If  we  refer  this  point  to  the  decision  of  the 
best  of  men,  they  unite  from  their  own  sad  ex- 
perience to  confirm  it.  —  David  humbly  confess- 
es, "I  was  shapen  in  iniquity,  and  in  sin  did 
my  mother  conceive  me."  Daniel,  who  became 
so  peculiar  a  favourite  of  heaven,  humbly  de- 
plores his  rebellion  against  his  Maker.  Job, 
not  less  distinguished  for  his  piety,  said,  "  I 
abhor  myself,  and  repent  in  dust  and  ashes." 
Isaiah  exclaims,  "  woe  is  me,  for  I  am  undone, 
because  I  am  a  man  of  unclean  lips."  Paul,  who 
rivalled  them  all  in  his  piety,  and  in  his  use- 
fulness outdid  them,  says,  "  I  know  that  in  me 
(that  is,  in  my  flesh)  dwelleth  no  good  thing." 
"We  were  by  nature  the  children  of  wrath,  even 
as  others."  "Or  now  put  the  question  to  the 
best  of  the  human  species,  the  watchful,  dili- 
gent, self-denying  Christian,  and  let  him  decide 
the  controversy.  Go  with  him  into  his  closet, 
ask  him  his  opinion  of  the  corruption  of  his 
heart,  and  he  will  tell  you,  that  he  is  deeply  sen- 
sible of  its  power,  for  he  has  learned  it  from 
much  self-observation,  and  long  acquaintance 
with  the  workings  of  his  own  mind.  He  will 
tell  you,  that  every  day  strengthens  this  convic- 
tion ;  yea,  that  hourly  he  sees  fresh  reason  to 
deplore  his  want  of  simplicity  in  intention,  his 
infirmity  of  purpose,  his  low  views,  his  selfish 
unworthy  desires ;  his  backwardness  to  set  about 
his  duty,  his  languor  and  coldness  in  perform- 
ing it:  that  he  finds  himself  obliged  to  confess, 
that  he  feels  within  him  two  opposite  principles, 
and  that  he  cannot  do  the  things  that  he  would."* 

After  such  a  review,  how  just  appears  the 
observation,  "  The  merely  outward  irregularities 

Ps.  li.  5.   Dan.  is.  Job,  slii.6.    Is.  vi.  5.    Rom.  vii.  18,  Eph.  ii.  3. 
«  Wilberforce.  D  3 


34         ALL  MANKIND,  BY  NATURE, 

of  men  bear  no  more  proportion  to  the  whole  of 
their  depravity,  than  the  particles  of  water, 
which  are  occasionally  emitted  from  the  surface 
of  the  ocean,  to  the  tide  that  rolls  beneath.'^* 

§  12.  Think  not  that  I  love  to  dwell  on  this 
melancholy  subject.  Far  from  it ;  but  T  warn 
you  of  your  state  and  danger,  th  t  you  may 
seek  deliverance.  That  divine  book,  which 
gives  the  awful  description  you  have  now  read 
of  your  state,  gives  as  an  affecting  account  of  the 
danger,  to  which,  as  a  fallen  creature  and  a  sin- 
ner, you  are  exposed.  By  the  God  of  eternal 
truth  are  you  assured,  that  men  are  "by  nature 
the  children  of  wrath  ;"  "that  he  who  believeth 
not  is  condemned  already ;"  and,  "  that  judg- 
ment has  come  upon  all  men  to  condemnation;'* 
that  men  as  sinners  are  in  a  state  of  death ; 
"  that  the  wages  of  sin  is  death ;"  the  second 
and  more  dreadful  death,  which  consists  in 
being  cast  into  the  lake  of  fire.  And  that  "  the 
soul  which  sinneth  shall  surely  die."  That 
"destruction  and  misery  are  in  the  ways  of 
men ;"  and  that  "  a  day  of  judgment  and  per- 
dition to  ungodly  men  is  approaching ;"  for 
which  "  they  are  reserved."  Even  the  compas- 
sionate God  is  declared  "  to  hate  the  workers  of 
iniquity ;"  and  to  have  his  "  face  set  against 
them  that  do  evil,  to  cut  off  the  remembrance 
of  them  from  the  earth ;"  and  it  is  his  solemn 
assertion,  that  "there  is  no  peace  to  the  wicked." 

As  it  were,  if  possible,  to  guard  men  from 
self-deception,  on  a  point  of  such  infinite  im- 
portance, the  strongest  expressions  are  used,  in 
the  word  of  God,  in  asserting  that  all  are  thus 

♦  Fuller.  Eph.  ii.  3.  John,  iii.  18.  Rom.  v.  18.  Join),  v.  24. 
Rom.  vi.  23.  Rev.  xxi.  8.  Ezek.  xviii.  4.  Rom.  iii.  1(J.  2  Peteiv 
iii.  7.  ii.  9.    Ps.  v.  5.    Ps.  xssvi.  16.    Is.  Ivii.  2<.». 


IN  DANGER  OF  ETERNAL  DEATH.       35 

undone.  "As  many  as  have  sinned  without 
law  (without  the  advantages  of  God's  written 
word),  shall  also  perish  without  law;"  "and  as 
many  as  have  sinned  in  the  law,  shall  be  judged 
by  the  law;'*  and  its  judgment  is,  that  "every 
one  is  cursed,  who  hath  not  kept  all  things  that 
are  written  in  the  book  of  the  law  to  do  them." 
In  other  words,  that  every  one,  who,  even  by  a 
single  sin,  has  broken  the  commands  of  God, 
has  become  an  accursed  creature.  Conformably 
with  this,  the  apostles  of  our  Lord  declare, 
"that  the  wrath  of  God  is  revealed  from  heaven, 
not  merely  against  some  atrocious  crimes,  but, 
against  all  unrighteousness;"  that  "every  trans- 
gression and  disobedience  shall  receive  a  just 
recompence  of  reward;"  that  "God  will  render 
indignation  and  wrath,  tribulation  and  anguish, 
to  every  soul  of  man  that  doeth  evil ;"  and  that 
"  whosoever  shall  keep  the  whole  law,  and  yet 
offend  in  one  point,  he  is  guilty  of  all ;"  as  truly 
condemned  and  ruined  by  that  single  act,  as  he 
would  be  had  he  broken  the  whole.  While 
these  are  the  declarations  of  inspired  apostles, 
their  holy  Lord  affirms,  that  even  a  sinful  word 
exposes  the  soul  to  the  danger  of  hell  fire. 

§  13.  Not  merely  do  the  Lord's  inspired 
prophets  and  apostles  represent  our  natural  state 
as  full  of  danger,  but  they  represent  that  dan- 
ger as  inexpressibly  dreadful.  They  assure  us, 
that  "the  unrighteous  shall  not  inherit  the  king- 
dom of  God."  That  "  the  wicked  shall  be  turn- 
ed into  hell,  even  all  the  nations  that  forget 
God ;"  and  that  on  them  "  God  will  rain  fire 
and  brimstone,  and  a  horrible  tempest;'*   that 

Rom.  ii.  12.      Gal.  iii.  10.      Rom.  i.  18.      Heb.  ii.  2.      Rom.  ii.  9. 
James,  ii.  10.    Matt.  v.  22.     1  Cor.  vi.  10.    Ps.  ix.  17.  xi.  6 


36  THE  SINNER'S  DANGER  DREADFUL. 

"it  is  a  fearful  thing  to  fall  into  the  hands  of 
the  living  God ;"  for  "  our  God  is  a  consuming 
fire."  That  "the  Lord  Jesus  shall  be  revealed 
from  heaven,  with  his  mighty  angels,  in  flaming 
fire,  taking  vengeance  on  them  that  know  not 
God,  and  that  obey  not  the  gospel  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ;  who  shall  be  punished  with  ever- 
lasting destruction,  from  the  presence  of  the 
Lord,  and  the  glory  of  his  power"  Then  while 
some  awake  to  glory,  others  shall  awake  "to 
shame  and  everlasting  contempt."  Then  in 
vain  shall  the  "kings  of  the  earth,  and  the  great 
men,  and  the  rich  men,  and  the  chief  captains, 
and  the  mighty  men,  call  on  the  rocks  and  the 
mountains  to  cover  them,  and  hide  them  from 
the  wrath  of  the  Lamb."  "  Whosoever  has  not 
his  name  found  in  the  book  of  life,  will  be  then 
cast  into  the  lake  of  fire :"  and  not  merely  will 
atrocious  sinners  meet  this  dreadful  doom,  but 
"the  fearful  and  unbelieving,"  those  who  are 
too  cowardly  to  follow  Christ,  or  who  disbelieve 
his  gospel,  "shall  be  cast  into  the  lake  that  burns 
with  fire  and  brimstone."  "Then  shall  they  eat. 
of  the  fruit  of  their  own  ways,  and  be  filled 
with  their  own  devices ;"  while  "  the  smoke  of 
their  torment  ascendeth  up  for  ever  and  ever." 

The  divine  Saviour,  who  was  a  pattern  of 
tenderness  and  compassion,  instead  of  softening 
down  these  dreadful  representations,  confirms 
them  in  the  most  decisive  manner.  —  Infinite 
pity  dwelt  in  his' heart,  he  wept  over  wretched 
men,  yet  he  declared  that  he  himself,  on  all  the 
irreligious,  would  pronounce  the  dreadful  sen- 
tence, "  Depart  from  me,  ye  cursed,  into  ever- 

Heb.  xli.  29.  2  Thess.  1.  7.  Dan.  i.  2  Rer.  v5. 15.  xx.  15.  xxi.  8. 
Prov.  i.  31.    Rev.  xiv.  H. 


FEW  FIND  THE  PATH  TO  HEAVEN.      37 

lastino^  fire,  prepared  for  the  devil  and  his  an- 
gels;" and  he  affirms  that  "they  shall  go  away 
into  everlasting  punishment;"  "into  the  fur- 
nace of  fire,  where  shall  be  wailing  and  gnash- 
ing of  teeth  ;"  "  where  the  worm  dieth  not,  and 
the  fire  is  not  quenched."  To  avoid  this,  he 
bids  you  count  nothing  too  dear.  "  Fear  not,'* 
says  he,  "them  which  kill  the  body,  and  after 
that  have  no  more  that  they  can  do,  but  fear 
Him  who  after  he  hath  killed  hath  power  to 
cast  into  hell."  Dreadful  doom !  "  whose  heart 
can  endure,  or  whose  hands  be  strong  in  the 
day  that  God  shall  deal  with  him !"  who  can 
dwell  with  everlasting  burnings !  who  can  en- 
dure devouring  fire ! 

§  14.  While,  my  young  friend,  you  are  thus 
affectionately  warned  of  your  danger,  even  by 
the  Lord  himself,  you  are  as  solemnly  assured 
by  him,  that  multitudes  plunge  into  this  eternal 
ruin ;  and  that  no  outward  privileges  will  suffice 
to  deliver  you  from  its  horrors.  As  it  were  to 
quicken  your  concern  after  everlasting  blessings, 
the  Lord  Jesus  declares  that  but  a  few,  a  happy 
few,  obtain  them.  "Wide,"  says  he,  "is  the 
gate,  and  broad  is  the  way  that  leadeth  to  de- 
struction, and  many  there  be  which  go  in  there- 
at ;"  and  then  he  adds  in  the  most  impressive 
manner  —  "Strait  is  the  gate,  and  narrow  the 
way  that  leadeth  into  life,  and  few  there  be  that 
find  it !"  "  Many  are  called,  but  few  are  cho- 
sen." Presume  not  then,  that  there  is  little 
danger  of  missing  the  path  io  heaven,  for  there 
is  much.  The  way  is  narrow.  Presume  not 
that  most  will  be  saved,  and  that  therefore  you 

Matt  XXV.  41.  46.  xiii.  42.    Mark,  ix.  44.    Luke,  xii.  5.     Matt.  x. 
28.    Ezek.  xx.  14.    Is  xxxiii.  14.    Matt.  vii.  13,  14.  sxii.  16. 
9 


38  OBJECTION  ANSWERED 

may  go  contentedly  with  the  multitude.  The 
multitude  are  tiavelling  the  downward  road ; 
and  but  few  find  the  path  that  leads  to  glory 
and  to  God  :  O,  cherish  a  pious  concern  to  be- 
come one  of  that  happy  few  ! 

§  15.  Perhaps,  my  young  friend,  you  attempt 
to  set  aside  all  that  I  have  urged,  respecting  the 
danger  of  your  state,  by  pleading,  "I  am  not 
guilty  of  any  notorious  crimes;  lying,  lewdness, 
sabbath-breaking,  dishonesty,  and  a  hundred 
other  vices,  in  which  thousands  indulge,  I  never 
practised."  If  you  knew  yourself  and  the  law 
of  God  better,  you  might  perceive  that  you 
have,  in  your  heart,  committed  many  sins,  of 
which  you  now  think  yourself  guiltless,  but  if  it 
be  as  you  imagine,  yet  allow  me  to  remind  you, 
that  the  word  of  God  declares  you  as  much  a 
condemned  and  ruined  creature,  for  leaving 
undone  what  you  should  have  done,  as  for  doing 
what  you  should  not.  Though  your  life  may 
be  moral,  yet  if  you  do  not  from  your  heart 
submit  to  the  Son  of  God,  you  do  not  obey  the 
gospel.  "  And  what  shall  the  end  be  of  them 
who  obey  not  the  gospel  of  God?"  "They  shall 
be  punished  with  everlasting  destruction  from 
the  presence  of  the  Lord,  and  the  glory  of  his 
power."  Be  not  then  deceived;  not  merely  the 
openly  profligate,  but  the  unrighteous,  all  who 
are  destitute  of  real  piety,  "  shall  not  inherit  the 
kingdom  of  God."  "If  any  man  have  not  the 
Spirit  of  Christ  he  is  none  of  his."  "  If  any 
man  love  not  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  let  him  be 
accursed."  "  He  that  believeth  not  the  Son 
shall  not  see  life,  but  the  wrath  of  God  abideth 

1  Peter,  ir.  17.    2  Thcss.  i.  7.     1  Cor.  t1.  9.      Rom.  viii.  9,     1  Cor. 
X¥i.  '22,    John,  iii.  31. 


ADDRESS  TO  THE  READER.         39 

on  him/'  The  blessed  Redeemer  has  taught 
us  that  merely  "making  light  of  the  gospel," 
is  the  way  to  eternal  ruin.  "  How  then  shall 
we  escape  if  we  neglect  (do  nothing  worse  than 
neglect)  so  great  salvation  I" 

§  16.  And  now,  my  young  friend,  what  are 
your  views  of  your  own  state  ?  Do  you  feel  that 
you  are  justly  condemned,  or  do  you  cling  to 
the  delusions,  by  which  thousands  are  undone? 
When  looking  round,  you  see  many  amiable 
persons,  who  seem  to  want  nothing  but  the  one 
thing  needful,  do  you  ask,  "  Are  these  like  the 
vilest  sinners  threatened  with  eternal  wrath  ?  or 
if  they  are,  can  these  be  deserving  of  it?" 
Search  the  book  of  God,  and  you  will  there 
surely  find  that  they  are;  and  that,  without  one 
thing  more,  all  the  amiable  qualifications  imag- 
inable, will  do  no  more  to  save  them  from  eter- 
nal wrath,  than  a  fine  dress  lo  save  a  man  from 
destruction,  if  hurled  from  the  top  of  a  tremen- 
dous precipice.  Perhaps  you  may  have  been 
an  affectionate  child,  you  may  be  tender  and 
compassionate,  dutiful  and  obliging,  but  will 
this  save  you  ?  No,  never.  —  Excellent  as  these 
qualifications  are  in  their  place,  if  these  could 
have  atoned  for  sin,  and  saved  the  soul,  the  Son 
of  God  need  not  have  died.  But  the  fact  is, 
you  may  possess  all  these,  and  a  thousand  other 
amiable  recommendations,  and  yet  live  in  re- 
bellion against  your  God ;  and  thus,  however 
fair  your  character  may  be  in  the  sight  of  men, 
in  that  of  God  it  may  be  as  dark  and  as  vile  as 
the  character  of  Satan  himself.  What  is  rebel- 
lion against  God,  but  continued  disobedience 
and  neglect  of  his  commands  ?     And  are  you 

aiatt.xxii.  1,  &c.    Luke,  xiv.]2,  &c.    Heb.  ii.  3. 


40         ADDRESS  TO  THE  READER, 

not  guilty  of  this?  Perhaps,  you  think  not. 
Well,  inquire  a  little  further.  Which  is  the 
first  and  great  commandment?  Is  it  not,  "Thou 
shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  heart, 
and  with  all  thy  soul,  and  with  all  thy  mind, 
and  with  all  thy  strength  ?"  Have  you  kept 
this  ?  Has  God  had  all  your  heart  ?  Have  all 
your  affections  been  fixed  on  him?  Has  he 
been  loved  with  all  your  soul  and  mind ;  and 
thus  stood  highest  in  your  esteem;  and  been 
chosen  as  your  supreme  good  and  only  portion  ? 
If  not,  however  fair  and  pleasing  your  outward 
conduct  may  have  been,  you  have  yet  been  liv- 
ing continually  committing  the  greatest  of  sins ; 
for  you  have  lived  breaking  God's  first  and 
great  commandment  every  day  of  your  exist- 
ence. If  to  love  God  above  all  things  is  the  first 
and  greatest  commandment,  to  live  negligent 
of  him  must  be  one  of  the  greatest  of  sins,  and 
indeed  a  sin  that  opens  the  way  to  every  other. 
O  my  young  friend,  could  we  see  things  aright, 
every  other  sin,  so  far  as  it  referred  to  man  only, 
would  dwindle  into  comparative  innocence,  com- 
pared with  neglect  of  the  blessed  Saviour  and 
our  adorable  God !  The  blackness  of  every 
other  crime  would  be  as  light,  compared  with 
the  more  horrible  blackness  of  alienation  of  the 
heart  from  God,  that  first  of  sins,  that  root  of 
every  other.  This  has  been  mine,  this  has  been 
yours !  and,  unless  your  heart  be  changed  by 
divine  grace,  even  at  this  moment  this  sin  is 
yours.  Though  unstained  with  the  other  dark 
offences,  of  the  robber  or  the  adulterer,  yet  this 
blackest  of  all  you  have  as  well  as  they.  Like 
them  you  belong  to  a  false  apostate  race,  that 
have  forsaken  their  God,  and  gone  away  back- 


MAN'S  SINFULNESS  ILLUSTRATED.  41 

ward.  And  how  can  you  hope  for  heaven,  if 
this  darkest  of  crimes  remains  unrepented  and 
unforsaken  ? 

§  1 7.  Perhaps  a  familiar  illustration  may  ren- 
der this  subject  still  plainer.  Imagine  two  fa- 
voured villages,  under  a  kind  and  beneficent 
government,  uniting  fn  a  cruel  and  unprovoked 
rebellion.  The  inhabitants  of  one  of  these  vil- 
lages are  profane,  contentious,  quarrelsome 
wretches ;  those  of  the  other  are  decent,  quiet, 
sober  men.  Careless  of  threatenings,  and  un- 
moved by  kindness,  they  persist  in  their  rebel- 
lion. In  the  former  village,  discord,  blasphemy, 
and  every  sin  abound ;  in  the  other,  harmony, 
and  mutual  affection  prevail.  Now,  my  young 
friend,  if  the  inhabitants  of  these  two  places 
were  brought  to  trial  for  their  crimes  at  the 
same  bar,  would  there  appear  much  diflference 
between  them  ?  Would  they  not  all  be  rebels, 
ungrateful  rebels ;  though  one  party  were  a  set 
of  tumultuous  quarrelsome  creatures,  and  the 
other  harmonious  good-natured  rebels  ?  Would 
not  the  same  doom  justly  await  them  all  ?  And 
if  the  quiet  villagers  were  to  plead  in  their  own 
defence,  that  though  it  was  true,  they  had  en- 
gaged in  an  unprincipled  and  ungrateful  rebel- 
lion ;  yet  that  they  were  kind,  affectionate,  and 
useful  to  each  other :  would  not  this  very  cir- 
cumstance be  an  aggravation  of  their  guilt? 
Might  it  not  be  answered,  "  Among  such  disor- 
derly wretches  as  those,  rebellion  was  likely  to 
happen ;  but  from  you,  better  things  might  have 
been  expected."  Apply  this  to  the  present  sub- 
ject. The  openly  wicked  and  profane  resemble 
the  former  of  these;  the  moral  and  benevolent, 
that  yet  neglect  religion,  may  be  compared  to 


42  ILLUSTRATION  OF  THE  WICKEDNESS 

the  latter.  In  many  things  they  differ;  but 
agree  in  the  worst,  that  they  have  rebelled 
against  their  greatest  and  best  Benefactor.  Are 
not  you,  by  neglect  and  disobedience,  a  rebel 
against  your  God  ?  Have  net  you,  at  least,  by 
a  careless  life,  said  to  him,  "  Depart  from  me ; 
for  I  desire  not  the  knowledge  of  thy  ways  ?" 
Have  not  you  lived  as  without  God  in  the 
world  ?  So  that  if  there  had  been  no  God,  you 
probably  could  hardly  have  been  more  forgetful 
of  him,  than  you  have  frequently  been  ?  Has 
not  this  been  the  case  ?  and  if  it  has,  will  it 
avail  for  you  at  the  last  to  plead,  that  you  have 
been  kind,  tender,  useful,  and  beloved  among 
your  fellow  rebels  ? 

§  18.  Have  I  succeeded  in  convincing  you, 
that  neglect  of  God,  and  want  of  love  to  him,  is 
so  enormous  a  sin,  that  this  only,  if  you  had  no 
other,  would  be  sufficient  to  sink  the  soul  to  the 
lowest  depths  of  hell  ?  If  1  have  not,  O,  let  me 
urge  it  further  upon  you,  in  another  familiar 
illustration !  Suppose  that  a  child,  as  soon  as 
he  could  discover  any  disposition,  should  show 
an  entire  disregard  to  the  most  affectionate  pa- 
rents. Fondly  attached  to  him,  and  desirous 
to  secure  a  return  of  affection,  they  study  aU 
they  can  for  his  advantage,  and  heap  new  fa- 
vours on  him;  still  he  forgets  them,  and  shows 
them  no  regard.  They  confer  on  him  more 
favours,  more  benefits  still ;  yet  he  still  forgets 
them,  and  even  discovers  a  growing  aversion 
for  them.  At  length  they  place  him  out  in  the 
world,  and  do  what  they  can  to  promote  his 
happiness  there  :  he  still  forgets  them ;  seems 
insensible  to  all  their  affection ;  has  no  more 
love  for  them  than  the  stones  beneath  their  feet : 


OF  ALL  THE  IRRELIGIOUS.  43 

and  even  treats  them  with  dislike ;  shuns  their 
presence;  and  banishes  the  thought  of  them 
from  his  mind.  Would  not  such  a  child  de- 
serve to  lose  his  parents'  love,  and  to  be  cast 
off  for  ever  ?  Suppose  this  ungrateful  child,  by 
abusing  his  parents'  kindness,  undone,  utterly 
undone ;  but  their  kindness  ends  not.  They 
make  themselves  poor,  to  place  him  once  more 
in  circumstances  of  comfort,  and  give  up  what- 
ever they  have  most  valuable  for  this  purpose: 
yet  still  he  goes  on  as  ever;  unaffected  by  their 
tenderness ;  unthankful  for  their  favours ;  and 
with  an  increasing  dislike  to  them.  Could  they 
still  retain  one  parental  feeling?  Would  not 
such  a  monster  of  ingratitude  deserve  to  be  for- 
gotten for  ever  ?  Or  could  they  be  thought  un- 
kind, if  they  refused  to  admit  this  child,  with 
the  worst  of  dispositions  in  his  heart,  to  dwell 
in  the  closest  intimacy  with  them  ?  Would  the 
case  be  mended,  if  this  ungrateful  creature  were 
affectionate  and  grateful  to  eveiy  one  but  his 
parents  ?  and  careless  of  none  but  those  his  best 
friends  and  tenderest  benefactors  ?  Would  not 
this  make  his  guilt  the  worse ;  as  it  would  show 
that  his  heart  was  not  without  gratitude  and 
affection,  though  too  depraved  to  offer  them 
where  most  justly  due?  Would  it  be  unreason- 
able for  the  most  affectionate  parents  to  banish 
such  a  child  from  their  presence  for  ever  ?  My 
young  friend,  harsh  as  it  may  sound,  if  you 
neglect  true  piety,  you  are  a  more  ungrateful 
child  to  God,  than  the  most  ungrateful  child 
could  possibly  be  to  the  most  affectionate  pa- 
rents; for  how  little  are  the  obligations  of  a 
child  to  his  parents,  compared  with  those  of  a 
creature  to  his  Creator  and  his  God !     And  as 


44  THE  YOUNG  SINNER'S  EXTREME 

much  greater  as  is  the  obligation;  so  much  viler, 
so  much  blacker  is  the  ingratitude  of  neglect. 
O,  how  great  is  the  debt  of  gratitude  you  owe  to 
God  !  It  is  on  his  world  you  live.  All  that  is 
agreeable  around  you  was  made  so  by  him. 
Here  are  you  placed  to  prepare  for  an  unutter- 
ably better  state.  Nor  are  you  here  forgotten 
by  your  God.  Every  moment  of  time,  every 
breath  you  draw,  every  pleasure  you  feel,  you 
owe  to  him.  No  day  passes  without  its  bless- 
ings. One  favour  has  scarcely  vanished  before 
others  appear.  The  end  of  one  mercy  is  the 
beginning  of  another.  Though  forgotten,  God 
is  not  forgetful.  Though  he  may  have  been 
neglected  by  you  for  days  and  years,  he  spares 
you  still,  that  you  may  tunl  to  him.  He  has  not 
cut  short  your  days  in  the  moment  of  sin  ;  nor 
hurried  you  from  the  scene  of  guilty  delight  to 
the  place  of  eternal  torment.  Though  unthank- 
ed  for  his  blessings  day  after  day,  he  has  con- 
tinued to  give  them.  —  Consider,  that  every  thing 
you  enjoy  is  God's ;  aud  then  think,  can  the 
worst  of  crimes  against  the  best  of  earthly 
friends  be  half  so  heinous  as  ingratitude  to  God. 
The  mercies  I  have  mentioned  are  the  smallest 
of  his  mercies.  We  are  fallen  creatures.  You 
have  destroyed  yourself,  but  in  him  is  your  help. 
To  save  you  from  ruin  he  gave  his  beloved  and 
adorable  Son.  Could  he  give  more  ?  Though 
he  was  rich,  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  for  your  sake 
became  poor;  that  you,  through  his  poverty, 
might  be  rich.  Could  he  do  more  ?  You  are 
a  child  whom  God  has  placed  upon  earth  and 
crowned  with  mercies;  and  because  you  were 
else  undone  for  ever,  he,  to  restore  you  from 
your  fallen  state,  has,  to  every  other  gift,  add( d 


INGRATITUDE  TO  GOD.  45 

that  best  and  greatest,  his  beloved  Son.  Could 
a  child,  under  God,  indebted  to  his  parents  for 
life,  indebted  to  them  for  all  his  comforts,  and 
indebted  to  them  for  recovery  from  a  thousand 
evils;  owe  them  a  thousandth  part  so  much  love 
and  gratitude,  as  you  owe  to  God  ?  or  could 
such  a  one  be  a  thousandth  part  so  guilty  as 
you  must  be,  if  you  slight  all  the  unspeakable 
goodness  of  God,  and  all  the  infinite  love  of 
the  dying  Saviour  ?  How  horrible  a  state  it  is, 
through  wilful  sin,  to  become  the  enemy  of  God 
in  this  world,  and  then  to  be  such  for  ever !  to 
begin  by  neglecting  a  kind  heavenly  Father 
here,  and  to  end  by  hating  him,  as  the  sinner 
will,  beyond  the  grave !  To  hate  him  who  is 
all  that  is  excellent  and  amiable ;  and  in  whose 
favour  only  one  drop  of  happiness  can  be  found 
hereafter.  How  horrible,  most  horrible  a  state 
is  this  !  yet  this  condition  is  yours,  if  you  are 
not  reconciled  to  God.  Can  you  expect  that  he 
should  glorify  in  his  presence,  and  admit  to  his 
right-hand,  those  whose  hearts  are  averse  to  his 
ways,  or  entirely  negligent  of  them ;  who  are 
loaded  with  mercies,  but  still  forgetful  of  the 
giver  ?  What  though  they  shine  in  the  view  of 
their  fellow  rebels;  what  though  they  be  adorned 
with  a  thousand  charms  of  body  or  mind :  yet 
God  beholds  the  serpent  that  lurks  beneath  the 
rose;  He  sees  the  ungrateful  hellish  heart. 

§  19.  An  excellent  writer,  noticing  the  delu- 
sions of  the  world,  observes,  that  "  young  people 
may,  M'ithout  much  offence,  be  inconsiderate 
and  dissipated ;  the  youth  of  one  sex  may  in- 
dulge occasionally  in  licentious  excesses;  those 
of  the  other  may  be  supremely  given  up  to  van- 
ity and  pleasure :   yet  provided  that  they  are 


46  QUOTATION,  ON  HUMAN 

sweet-tempered  and  open,  and  not  disobedient 
to  their  parents  or  other  superiors,  the  former 
are  deemed  good-hearted  young  men,  and  the 
latter,  innocent  young  women.  Those  who  love 
them  best,  have  no  solicitude  about  their  spiri- 
tual interests :  and  it  would  be  deemed  strangely 
strict  in  themselves,  or  in  others,  to  doubt  of 
their  becoming  more  religious  as  they  advance 
in  life ;  to  speak  of  them  as  being  actually  un- 
der the  divine  displeasure;  or,  if  their  lives 
should  be  in  danger,  to  entertain  any  apprehen- 
sions concerning  their  future  destiny.'*  He 
continues  — 

"  Innocent  young  women  !  Good-hearted  young 
men  !"  Wherein  does  this  goodness  of  heart  and 
this  innocence  appear  ?  Remember  that  we  are 
fallen  creatures,  born  in  sin,  and  naturally  de- 
praved. Christianity  recognises  no  innocence  or 
goodness  of  heart,  but  in  the  remission  of  sin, 
and  in  the  effects  of  the  operation  of  divine 
grace.  Do  we  find  in  these  young  persons  the 
characters  which  the  holy  scriptures  lay  down, 
as  the  only  satisfactory  evidences  of  a  safe  state  ? 
Do  we  not,  on  the  other  hand,  discover  the  spe- 
cified marks  of  a  state  of  alienation  from  God  ? 
Can  the  blindest  partiality  persuade  itself  that 
they  are  loving,  or  striving  "  to  love  God  with 
all  their  hearts,  and  minds,  and  souls,  and 
strength  ?"  Are  they  "  seeking  first  the  kingdom 
of  God,  and  his  righteousness  ?"  Are  they 
"working  out  their  salvation  with  fear  and  trem- 
bling?" Are  they  ''clothed  with  humility?"  Are 
they  not,  on  the  contrary,  supremely  given  up  to 
self-indulgence  ?  Are  they  not,  at  least,  "  lovers 
of  pleasure  more  than  lovers  of  God  ?"  Are  the 
offices  of  religion  their  solace  or  their  task?    Do 


SINFULNESS,  FROM  WILBERFORCE.      47 

they  not  come  to  these  sacred  services  with  re- 
luctance, continue  in  them  by  constraint,  and 
quit  them  with  gladness  ?  Are  not  the  youth 
of  one  sex  often  actually  committing,  and  still 
more  often  wishing  to  commit,  those  sins  of 
which  the  scripture  says  expressly,  "that  they 
which  do  such  things  shall  not  inherit  the  king- 
dom of  God  ?"  Are  not  the  youth  of  the  other 
mainly  intent  on  the  gratification  of  vanity ; 
and  looking  for  their  chief  happiness  to  the  re- 
sorts of  gaiety  and  fashion,  to  all  the  multiplied 
pleasures  which  public  places,  or  the  still  high- 
er gratifications  of  more  refined  circles,  can  sup- 
ply?'' 

And  now,  my  young  friend,  with  all  the  seri- 
ousness T  can  use,  allow  me  to  ask  you,  if  you 
were  this  moment  to  be  summoned  before  the 
throne  of  your  Judge,  and  were  accused  of  hav- 
ing lived  negligent  of  God,  and  thus  of  having 
lived  a  life  of  dreadful  sin;  would  you  not  be 
obliged  to  plead  guilty  to  the  charge,  or,  at 
least,  to  stand  speechless  and  confused  before 
your  Maker?  Does  not  your  conscience  tell  you, 
that  you  must?  and  if  it  does,  "God  is  greater 
than  your  heart,  and  knoweth  all  things." 

PRAYER  FOR  A  YOUNG  PERSON  CONVINCED  OF  THE  TRUTH 
OF  THE  PRECEDING  STATEMENT,  AND  HUMBLED  FOR 
SIN. 

Thou  kind,  compassionate,  and  ever-blessed 
God,  teach  me,  a  poor  sinful  creature,  to  ap- 
proach thee ;  and  grant,  that  through  the  Lord 
Jesus,  I  may  find  acceptance  with  thee.  Shame 
and  confusion  of  face  should  cover  me,  while  I 
draw  near  to  confess  my  sinfulness  before  thee. 
Open  my  blind  eyes,  to  discern  my  real  state. 


48  PRAYER  FOR  A  YOUNG 

Soften  my  hard  heart,  that  it  may  feel  its  mis- 
eries, and  tremble  at  its  guilt.  No  longer  let 
baneful  delusions  hide  the  ti'uth  from  my  sight. 

Compassionate  God,  thou  hast  been  kind  to 
me ;  but  I,  an  unkind,  unthankful  wretch  to  thee. 
Not  many  years  have  departed  since  I  first 
drew  the  breath  of  life ;  but,  alas !  how  have 
those  years  been  spent  ?  My  youth  has  been 
crowned  with  thy  mercies;  and  yet  I  have  for- 
gotten thee.  I  have  loved;  but  not  loved  thee. 
I  have  had  fears;  but  felt  no  holy  fear  of  thee. 
I  have  sought  to  please  others ;  but  lived  dis- 
pleasing thee.  I  have  had  a  heart  sensible  of 
the  tenderness  of  friends  and  relatives;  but  in- 
sensible of  thine.  The  trifles  and  vanities  of 
time  have  engaged  my  attention ;  while  thy  in- 
finite love  has  been  passed  unregarded  by.  The 
ox  knoweth  his  owner,  and  the  ass  his  master's 
crib ;  but  I  have  not  known  my  God.  The  mo§t 
savage  beasts  of  prey  have  learned  to  love  the 
hand  that  fed  them ;  but,  viler  than  the  brute 
creation,  I  have  forgotten  the  God  in  whom  I 
live,  and  move,  and  have  my  being :  and,  Oh  ! 
poor  blind  creature  that  I  have  been  !  still  I 
have  claimed  the  name  of  Christian,  and  thought 
myself  a  child  of  God,  and  an  heir  of  heaven. 

No  longer,  great  God,  let  such  delusions 
blind  my  eyes;  but  help  me,  while  I  confess  my 
folly,  to  feel  what  I  am.  I  am  the  sirmer  which 
thy  word  describes.  Like  the  lost  sheep,  I  have 
wandered  from  thee ;  like  the  prodigal,  forsaken 
thee.  I  have  even  rebelled  against  thee.  I  have 
been  a  lover  of  pleasures  more  than  a  lover  of 
God.  My  heart  is  deceitful  above  all  things; 
and  has  been  the  fountain  whence  every  sin  has 
flowed.      I  have  by   nature   the  carnal   mind. 


PERSON  PENITENT  FOR  SIN.  49 

which  is  enmity  against  thee  :  and,  gracious 
God,  the  sad  fruits  of  this  enmity  have  been  my 
neglect  of  thy  favour;  my  unconcern  at  thy  dis- 
pleasure ;  and  my  forgetfulness  of  thy  love.  I 
have  resisted  thy  Spirit;  but  listened  to  the 
suggestions  of  Satan.  I  have  slighted  thy 
word ;  but  have  been  guided  by  the  maxims  of 
a  corrupt  world.  Thou  hast  bid  me  remember 
thee  in  my  youth  ;  but  I  have  forgotten  thee. 
Thou  hast  commanded  me  to  love  thee ;  but  I 
have  neglected  thee.  Thou  hast  encouraged 
me  to  pray  to  thee ;  but  I  have  often  restrained 
prayer  before  thee,  or,  when  I  professed  to 
pray,  have  mocked  thee  with  solemn  sounds  on 
a  thoughtless  tongue. 

Thou  hast  been  a  tender  Father  to  me ;  but  I, 
worse  than  a  rebellious  prodigal  to  thee.  Thou 
hast  wooed  me  by  thy  compassion ;  and,  by  the 
gift  of  numberless  mercies,  hast,  as  it  were,  said. 
Now  love  me,  now  give  me  thine  heart :  and  I 
have  not  heard  thy  voice ;  or,  if  I  have,  refused 
to  give  what  thy  love  claimed.  I  have  undone 
myself;  and  thou  hast  interposed  to  save  me. 
Thou  hast  even  given  thy  best-beloved  and  ador- 
able Son  to  die  for  me ;  yet  even  this  match- 
less mercy  melted  not  my  hard  heart.  Can  I, 
great  God,  hide  my  infernal  wickedness?  I  can- 
not. Jt  is  open  to  thy  view ;  and  ever  glaring 
in  all  its  horror  before  thine  eyes.  Shall  I  ex- 
tenuate my  transgressions  and  corruption  ? 
Shall  I  plead  much  ignorance?  —  but  I  might 
have  known  thee.  Shall  I  plead  the  thought- 
lessness of  youth  ?  I  dare  not ;  for  thoughtless 
as  I  have  been  of  thee,  young  as  I  am,  I  have 
been  thoughtful  about  the  trifles  of  a  moment. 
Shall  I  —  no,  I  dare  not,  say,  thou  art  not  wor- 
2** 


60  PRAYER  FOR  A  PENITENT. 

thy  of  my  love ;  for  had  I  ten  thousand  hearts, 
thy  love  would  deserve  them  all.  Shall  I  plead 
that  I  have  been  kind,  benevolent,  and  useful  to 
my  fellow-sinners?  Ah,  my  God!  the  plea 
would  but  aggravate  my  guilt :  I  have  been 
kind  to  them ;  but  unkind  to  thee.  I  have  loved 
them;  but  been  averse  to  thee:  though  thou 
hast  an  infinite  and  everlasting  claim  on  my 
regard.  My  heart  has  glowed  with  gratitude  for 
their  tenderness ;  but  been  cold  and  unmoved 
by  thine :  though  theirs  has  borne  no  more  com- 
parison to  thine,  than  a  drop  to  the  ocean,  or  a 
grain  of  sand  to  the  world.  Kind  and  much- 
injured  God,  I  own  my  guilt  before  thee.  "I 
have  sinned  against  heaven,  and  in  thy  sight.** 
I  have  sinned  against  thee.  I  have  sinned 
against  thy  once  suffering,  but  now  exalted  Son. 
I  have  sinned  against  thy  Holy  Spirit.  I  have 
sinned  against  my  own  immortal  soul.  God,  be 
merciful  to  me  a  sinner  1  No  tears  of  peniten- 
tial grief  can  wash  away  my  stains.  Teach  me 
to  plead  the  Saviour's  death,  and  cleanse  me  in 
his  atoning  blood.  Create  in  me  a  clean  heart ; 
and  renew  a  right  spirit  within  me.  Let  no 
more  of  the  precious  days  of  my  youth  be  spent 
careless  of  thee,  as  many  have  already  been. 
Take  my  heart,  and  make  it  thine.  Take  my 
youth,  and  let  it  be  devoted  to  thee.  Take  me 
now  in  the  flower  of  life,  and  let  me  live  to  thee 
alone :  that  while  I  live,  I  may  live  to  the  Lord ; 
and  when  I  die,  may  die  to  the  Lord ;  and  thus 
whether  I  live  or  die,  may  be  the  Lord's  Grant 
these  requests,  O  most  merciful  God  !  for  the 
sake  of  thy  dear  Son ;  to  whom  I  would  flee  as 
ray  only  refuge ;  and  to  whom  be  the  kingdom, 
power,  and  glory>  for  ever  and  for  ever.    Amen. 


51 
CflAPTER  III. 

SOME  OF  THE  SINS  OF  YOUTH  ENUMERATED. 

§  1 .  It  was  endeavoured,  in  the  last  chapter, 
to  show  you,  that  you  are,  by  nature,  a  fallen, 
depraved,  and  apostate  creature.  'Sow,  great 
God,  assist  me,  whilst  I  strive  to  convince  my 
youthful  readers,  not  merely  of  the  corruption 
of  their  nature,  but  of  the  error  of  their  ways. 
Display  to  them,  whither  the  paths  of  sin  lead ; 
and  bid  them  seek  true  happiness  in  thyself. 

My  young  friend,  I  entreat  you  to  follow  me, 
while  I  point  out  to  you  some  of  those  sins 
which  undo  multitudes.  Among  these  evils,  a 
thoughtless,  inconsiderate  spirit,  is  in  young 
persons,  one  of  the  most  common,  and  one  of 
the  most  fatal.  "While  open  impiety  slays  its 
thousands,  this  sinks  its  ten  thousands  to  per- 
dition. A  time  is  coming  when  you  must  con- 
sider your  ways.  From  the  bed  of  death,  or 
from  the  eternal  world  you  must  take  a  review 
of  life :  but,  as  you  love  your  soul,  defer  not  till 
that  solemn  period,  which  shall  fix  your  eternal 
state,  the  momentous  question  ;  *'  How  has  my 
life  been  spent  ?"  Look  back  on  your  past 
years.  They  are  gone  for  ever.  But  what  re- 
port have  they  borne  to  heaven  ?  What  is  the 
record  made  respecting  them  in  the  book  of 
God?  Will  they  rise  up  in  the  judgment 
against  you  ?  Possibly  you  may  not  see  many 
instances  of  flagrant  crime :  but  do  you  see 
nothing,  which  conscience  must  condemn ;  noth- 
ing, which  would  fill  you  with  alarm,  if  going 


52  THE  READER  URGED  TO  REVIEW  LIFE. 

this  moment  to  the  bar  of  your  Maker?  Perhapg 
you  reply,  "It  is  true,  I  cannot  justify  all  the 
actions  of  my  youthful  years ;  yet  the  worst  that 
I  see,  were  but  the  frolics  of  youth."  My  friend, 
do  they  bear  that  name  in  heaven  ?  Does  your 
Judge  view  them  in  no  worse  a  light  ?  It  has 
ever  been  the  custom  of  this  world  to  whitewash 
sin,  and  hide  its  hideous  deformity  ;  but,  know, 
that  what  you  pass  over  so  lightly,  your  God 
abhors  as  sins  —  sins,  the  least  of  which,  if  un- 
forgiven,  would  sink  your  soul  to  utter,  endless 
woe.  "  For  the  wrath  of  God  is  revealed  from 
heaven  against  all  ungodliness  and  unrighteous- 
ness." The  iniquities  of  youth,  as  well  as  of 
riper  years,  are  abhorred  by  him.  The  sins  of 
youth  were  the  bitter  things  which  holy  Job 
lamented  ;  and  for  deliverance  from  which  Da- 
vid devoutly  prayed.  "  Thou  writest  bitter 
things  against  me;  and  makest  me  to  possess 
the  iniquities  of  my  youth."  "Remember  not 
the  sins  of  my  youth,  nor  my  transgressions : 
according  to  thy  mercy,  remember  thou  me,  for 
thy  goodness'  sake,  O  Lord !" 

Take  then  another  review  of  life.  Begin  with 
childhood.  In  that  early  period,  so  often  falsely 
represented  as  a  state  of  innocence,  the  corrup- 
tions of  a  fallen  nature  begin  to  appear ;  and 
the  early  years  of  life  are  stained  with  false- 
hood, disobedience,  cruelty,  vanity,  and  pride. 
Can  you  recollect  no  instances,  in  which  your 
earlier  years  were  thus  polluted  with  actual  sin  ? 
Can  you  bring  to  remembrance  no  occasion,  on 
which  falsehood  came  from  your  lips;  or  vanity, 
pride,  or  obstinacy,  was  cherished  in  your  heart? 
or  when  cruelty  to  the  meaner  creatures  was 

Rom.  i.  18.    Job,  xiii.  26.    P».  xxv.  7 


YOUTHFUL  SINS  —  PRIDE.  53 

your  sport?  Shrink  not  from  the  review;  though 
painful,  it  is  useful.  It  is  far  better  to  see  and 
abhor  your  youthful  sins  in  this  world,  where 
mercy  may  be  found ;  than  to  have  them  brought 
to  your  remembrance,  when  mercy  is  no  more. 

But  you  have  passed  the  years  of  childhood; 
you  have  advanced  one  stage  forwarder  in  your 
journey  to  an  endless  world.  Has  sin  weakened, 
as  your  years  increased  ?  Have  not  some  sinful 
dispositions  ripened  into  greater  vigour?  Have 
not  others,  which  you  knew  not  in  your  earlier 
years,  begun  to  appear  ?  and  does  not  increasing 
knowledge  add  new  guilt  to  all  your  sins  ? 

Among  the  prevailing  iniquities  of  youth  may 
be  mentioned :  — 

§  2.  Pride.  This  is  a  sin  common  to  all  ages ; 
but,  it  often  peculiarly  infects  the  young.  It  is 
abhorred  by  God.  ''The  proud  he  knoweth 
afar  off."  "  He  resisteth  the  proud  ;  but,  giveth 
grace  to  the  humble.^'  "Every  one  that  is  proud 
in  heart,  is  an  abomination  to  the  Lord."  "He 
hateth  a  proud  look."  "  A  high  look  and  a  proud 
heart,  is  sin."  "The  proud  are  cursed."  Pride 
is  the  parent  of  many  other  vices.  It  puts  on  a 
thousand  forms ;  yet,  unless  subdued  by  religion, 
is  found  in  the  palace  and  the  cottage.  You 
may  see  it  displayed  in  the  character  of  the 
young  prodigal :  (Luke,  xv.  19,  &c.)  Has  not 
this  sin,  which  God  so  much  abhors,  crept  into 
your  heart  ?  Perhaps  it  has  made  you  haughty, 
when  you  should  have  been  humble ;  obstinate, 
when  you  should  have  been  yielding;  revenge- 
ful, when  you  should  have  been  forgiving.  You 
thought  it  showed  spirit,  to  resent  an  injury  or 

Pa.  cxxxviii.  6.  James,  ir.  6.  Prov.  xvi.  5.  Prov.  vi.  17.  Prov.  xxi.  i, 
Ps.  cxix.  31. 

2*** 


54  YOUTHFUL  SINS  — PRIDE 

insult ;  instead  of  patiently  bearing  it,  like  him 
you  call  your  Lord.  Perhaps  it  has  filled  you 
with  dissatisfaction  ;  when  you  should  have  been 
all  submission.  You  have  thought  it  hard,  in 
the  day  of  affliction,  that  you  should  be  so  tried  ; 
and  even  if  you  stayed  the  murmur  against  God 
from  passing  your  lips,  have  you  not  felt  it  in 
your  heart?  Pride  has  probably  led  you  to  neg- 
lect the  counsels  of  wisdom  ;  and  to  turn  a  deaf 
ear  to  those,  who  wished  you  well  for  ever. 
Vain  of  the  ornaments  of  apparel,  have  you  not 
bestowed  more  thought  on  the  dress  you  should 
wear,  than  on  the  salvation  of  your  immortal 
soul  ?  and  been  more  concerned  about  the  shape 
of  a  coat,  or  the  fashion  of  a  gown  or  a  bonnet, 
than  about  life  or  death  eternal?  Perhaps  you 
have  been  one  of  those,  who  spend  more  time  in 
surveying  their  own  image  in  a  glass,  than  in 
seeking  the  favour  of  their  God.  Ah  !  did  pride 
never  lead  you  to  this  self- idolatry  ?  Did  it  ne- 
ver, never  fill  you  with  vanity,  from  the  fancy  of 
your  possessing  a  pleasing  face,  or  a  lovely  form, 
or  manly  vigour?  Ah,  foolish  vanity!  when 
you  must  so  soon  say  to  corruption,  "Thou  art 
my  father  ;  and  to  the  worm,  thou  art  my  mother 
and  sister !"  Yet,  foolish  as  it  is,  was  it  never 
yours  ?  "  Where  is  there  a  face  so  disagreeable, 
that  never  was  the  object  of  self-worship  in  a 
glass  ?  And  where  a  body,  however  deformed, 
that  never  was  set  up  as  a  favourite  idol,  by  the 
fallen  spirit  that  inhabits  it  ?" 

§  3.  One  of  the  most  prevalent,  and  most 
baneful  kinds  of  pride  is  that,  which  I  may  term, 
the  pride  of  self-righteousness.  Our  Lord,  in 
the  parable  of  the  Pharisee  and  Publican,  gives 
a  most  striking   description  of  this  sin.     The 


DISOBEDIENCE  TO  PARENTS.  65 

Pharisee  boasts,  that  he  was  not  like  others; 
that  he  had  not  committed  such  flagrant  crimes 
as  they  ,  and  that  he  practised  duties  which  they 
omitted.  On  this  sandy  foundation,  his  hope  for 
eternity  appears  to  have  rested.  Nothing  like 
humility  entered  his  heart ;  but,  in  all  the  pride 
of  fancied  virtue  he  approached  his  God.  This 
is  the  exact  spirit  of  multitudes  in  the  present 
day ;  and  where  young  persons  have  been  re- 
strained from  open  immoralities,  how  commonly 
does  it  exist  among  them !  It  is  pleaded,  respect- 
ing them,  "  that  they  are  not  like  many  profligate 
youth  around  them;  they  have  not  given  way 
to  profaneness  and  lying;  to  drunkenness  or 
dishonesty:  but,  they  have  been  kind  and  duti- 
ful; tender  and  obliging ;  have  good  hearts;  and 
are  good  young  people.*'  They  may  have  lived 
all  their  lives  careless  of  God  and  their  souls; 
but,  this  is  not  taken  into  account :  others  com- 
mend them,  and  they  are  willing  to  believe  these 
commendations.  They  please  themselves  with 
their  fancied  virtue ;  think  themselves  very  good 
young  persons :  and,  proud  of  this  goodness,  go 
forward  to  meet  that  God,  who  sees  in  them  ten 
thousand  crimes ;  and  who  abhors  nothing  more, 
than  the  pride  of  self-righteousness  in  a  creature 
polluted  by  daily  iniquities. 

§  4.  Another  common  sin  of  the  young  is, 
disobedience  to  parents.  "Honour  thy  father 
and  mother ;  that  it  may  be  well  with  thee,  and 
that  thou  mayst  live  long  on  the  earth."  This 
is  the  divine  commandment.  There  is,  it  is  true, 
one  case  in  which  even  parents  should  not  be 
obeyed;  when  their  directions  and  wishes  are 
opposed  to  those  of  God:  "we  ought  to  obey 

Ephes.  vi.  2,  3. 


56  YOUTHFUL  SINS  —  DISOBEDIENCE,  &C. 

God  rather  than  men ;"  and  to  love  the  Redeem- 
er more  than  parents  themselves.  Parents  are 
commonly  the  tenderest  of  friends;  and  pious 
parents  among  the  surest  guides,  that  the  young 
and  inexperienced  can  have,  to  lead  them  to  the 
footstool  of  God.  Your  interests  are  theirs. 
Your  welfare  their  happiness.  But  ah !  has 
their  kindness  met  with  the  return  it  demanded? 
Who,  my  young  friend,  so  much  deserve  your 
obedience  and  affection,  as  those  who  gave  you 
being,  and  who  watched  over  your  helpless  infan- 
cy ?  The  father,  whose  years  have  been  spent  in 
care  for  you ;  the  mother,  who  tended  you  at  her 
breast,  and  led  you  through  the  days  of  child- 
hood. Have  they  received  this  obedience  and 
affection  from  you? 

Perhaps  I  address  one,  whose  disobedience  and 
unkindness  have  wrung  with  grief  the  hearts  of 
fond  and  pious  parents;  and  filled  them  with 
sorrow  instead  of  gladness.  Their  desire  has 
been  to  see  you  walking  in  the  ways  of  God. 
For  this,  they  have  led  you  to  his  house.  For 
this,  their  prayers  have  ascended  in  public  and 
in  private.  This,  by  their  early  instructions  and 
later  admonitions,  they  have  warned  you  to  re- 
gard as  the  chief  end  of  life ;  as  that  only  con- 
cern, which,  beyond  all  others,  should  interest 
your  attention,  and  engage  all  your  heart.  And 
now  they  see  you  negligent  of  God  and  religion ; 
and  mourn  in  secret,  that  the  child  they  love,  is 
still  a  child  of  Satan.  Ah !  young  man  or  young 
woman,  if  this  be  your  case,  God  will  bring  you 
into  judgment,  for  all  your  abuse  of  precious  pri- 
vileges, and  all  your  neglect  of  parental  instruc- 
tions ;    and  the  prayers,  and  the  tears,  and  the 

Acts,  T.  29.    Matt.  x.  37, 38. 


WASTE  OF  TIME.  57 

admonitions  of  your  parents,  will  awfully  witness 
against  you.  Think  not,  that  if  affectionate  and 
kind  to  them,  you  will  much  mitigate  the  sorrows 
of  truly  pious  parents.  No ;  they  will  still  mourn 
at  the  thought,  that  the  affectionate  child,  they 
fondly  love,  is  not  a  child  of  God.  It  will  grieve 
them  to  the  heart  to  consider,  how  near  you  are 
to  endless  destruction;  and  how  soon  they  must 
hid  you  an  eternal  farewell,  when  they  go  to  that 
rest,  in  which  they  have  no  hope  of  meeting  you. 

Ah !  my  young  friend,  if  you  slight  religion, 
pious  parents  may  leave  you,  mourniuUy  saying, 
in  their  dying  hour,  "Alas !  our  beloved  child,  we 
shall  see  you  no  more :  for  our  God  you  have 
not  chosen  as  your  God ;  and  our  Saviour  you 
have  not  sought  as  your  Saviour ;  and  the  heaven 
to  which  we  go,  is  a  rest  to  which  you  have  no 
title,  and  which,  dying  as  you  are,  you  cannot  en- 
ter \"  Yes  ;  bitterly  will  they  mourn  to  think,  that 
with  so  much  that  is  lovely  in  their  view,  there  is, 
in  you,  nothing  that  is  lovely  in  the  sight  of  God ; 
and  that  all  which  they  esteem  so  pleasing  in 
you,  must  soon  be  buried  in  the  deeps  of  hell. 

§  5.  Another  sin,  not  peculiar  to  the  young, 
but  awfully  prevalent  among  them,  is,  the  waste  of 
precious  time.  The  word  of  God  reminds  us,  that 
"  time  is  short;"  and  commands  us  "  to  redeem 
the  time."  The  value  of  time  is  beyond  our  com- 
prehension or  expression. 

"What  Its  worth?  ask  death-beds;  they  can  tell; 
Amomentve  may  wish,  when  worlds  want  wealth  to  buy." 

Time  is  given  us  to  prepare  for  eternity ;  but,  alas ! 
how  are  its  golden  hours  sinned  and  trifled  away ! 
Many  young  persons  act  as  if  they  thought,  they 
had  so  much  time  befoje  them,  that  they  may 


58  YOUTHFUL  SINS  —  NOVEL  READING. 

afford  to  squander  some :  when,  perhaps,  their 
wasted  youth  is  their  all ;  all  in  which  they  will 
ever  have  an  opportunity  of  preparing  for  eterni- 
ty ;  all  in  which  they  can  "escape  from  hell  and 
fly  to  heaven."  One  of  the  most  common  ways, 
in  which  time  is  worse  than  wasted,  is,  the  em- 
ploying of  it  on  romances,  plays,  and  novels. 
Novels  are  the  poison  of  the  age:  the  best  of 
them  tend  to  produce  a  baneful  effeminacy  of 
mind ;  and  many  of  them  are  calculated,  to  ad- 
vance the  base  designs  of  the  licentious  and  aban- 
doned on  the  young  and  unsuspecting.  But, 
were  they  free  from  every  other  charge  of  evil, 
it  is  a  most  heavy  one,  that  they  occasion  a 
dreadful  waste  of  that  time,  which  must  be  ac- 
counted for  before  the  God  of  heaven.  Let 
their  deluded  admirers  plead  the  advantages  of 
novel-reading,  if  they  will  venture  to  plead  the 
same  before  the  worthy  Judge  eternal.  If  you 
are  a  novel-reader,  think  the  next  time  you  take 
a  novel  into  your  hands.  How  shall  I  answer 
to  my  tremendous  Judge,  for  the  time  occupied 
by  this  ?  When  he  shall  say  to  me,  '*  I  gave  you 
so  many  years  in  yonder  world,  to  fit  you  for 
eternity  :  did  you  converse  with  your  God  in 
devotion  ?  did  you  study  his  word  ?  did  you  at- 
tend to  the  duties  of  life;  and  strive  to  improve 
to  some  good  end  even  your  leisure  hours  ?"  then, 
then,  shall  I  be  willing  to  reply ;  "  Lord,  my  time 
was  otherwise  employed  !  Novels  and  romances 
occupied  the  leisure  of  my  days ;  when,  alas  ! 
my  bible,  my  God.  and  my  soul,  were  neglected !" 
In  this  way,  and  many  others,  is  time,  that  most 
precious  blessing,  squandered  away.  Does  not 
conscience  remind  you  of  many  leisure  hours  ; 
hours,  which,  though  thoughtlessly  thrown  away, 


i>EGLECT  OF  RELIGION.  59 

would  soon,  to  you,  be  worth  more  than  moun- 
tains of  gold  or  of  pearl  ? 

§  6.  Wilful  neglect  of  the  soul  and  eternity, 
is  another  common  sin  of  youth.  Young  persons 
presume  on  future  life ;  and  grieve  the  Holy  Spi- 
rit, by  delaying  to  regard  the  one  thing  needful. 
They  trust  in  their  youth.  God  reproves  the  fol- 
ly, and  says,  *^  Boast  not  thyself  of  to-morrow ; 
for  thou  knowest  not  what  a  day  may  bring  forth :" 
but,  few  will  listen  to  the  warning.  Instead  of 
doing  so,  they  flatter  themselves  that  they  shall 
live  for  many  years ;  and  think  sickness,  death, 
and  judgment,  far  from  them.  Hence  they  neg- 
lect the  soul;  and  seem  to  imagine  religion  im- 
suitable,  or  at  least  not  needful  for  themselves. 
The  blessed  God  calls  on  them  in  his  word  ;  the 
crucified  Saviour  bids  them  come  to  himself,  "I 
love  them  that  love  me,  and  they  that  seek  me 
early  shall  find  me;'*  the  ministers  of  the  gos- 
pel urge  the  advice  upon  them;  prayers  are  offer- 
ed, tears  shed  for  them :  yet,  many  persist  in  their 
own  ways ;  and,  whatever  they  do,  will  not  re- 
member their  Creator  in  the  days  of  their  youth. 
My  young  friend,  has  this  been  your  sin  and  fol- 
ly ?  O,  if  it  has,  remember  how  many  ways  there 
are  out  of  the  world !  how  many  diseases  to  cut 
short  your  days !  God  gives  you  time  enough 
to  secure  salvation ;  but  think  not,  that  he  gives 
you  any  to  spare. 

§  7.  An  inordinate  love  of  sensual  pleasure 
and  worldly  gaieties,  is  another  most  prevalent 
sin  of  youth.  The  word  of  God  describes  those 
who  live  in  pleasure,  as  '*dead  while  they  live;" 
and  classes  with  the  most  abominably  wicked, 
those  who  are  "lovers  of  pleasure  more  than  lov- 

Piov.  xxvii.  1.    Prov.  viii.  17.    i  Tim.  v,  6.    2  Tim.  iiL  4. 


60  YOUTHFUL  SINS  —  LOVE  OF 

ers  of  God."  Though  such  are  the  declarations  of 
the  Lord ;  yet,  pleasure,  pleasure,  is  the  chief  ob- 
ject of  thousands  of  the  young.  Some  pursue  it 
in  the  gross  and  brutish  paths  of  rioting  and 
drunkenness;  of  chambering  and  wantonness: 
others,  in  less  profligate  ways ;  but  with  hearts  not 
less  intent  upon  it.  The  card-table,  the  dance, 
the  horse-race,  the  play-house,  the  fair,  the  wake, 
are  the  scenes  of  their  highest  felicity.  My  young 
friend,  has  not  this  love  of  worldly  pleasure  dwelt 
in  your  heart?  Perhaps  you  have  not  run  into 
scandalous  and  disgraceful  excesses;  but  have 
you  not  had  a  greater  love  to  worldly  pleasures, 
than  to  God  and  religion?  If  you  have,  you  but 
too  surely  bear  that  awful  mark  of  being  a  child 
of  destruction,  that  you  are  a  lover  of  pleasures 
more  than  a  lover  of  God.  Have  not  you  been 
present  at  scenes  of  sinful  amusement  and  guil- 
ty festivity  ?  Have  not  you  been  as  anxious  as 
others,  for  those  sensual  delights  which  were  most 
suited  to  your  taste?  and,  while  thus  loving  this 
world,  have  not  you  forgotten  that  which  is  to 
come?  Have  not  you  been  more  pleased  with 
some  shining  bauble  or  glittering  toy,  than  with 
the  blessings  displayed  in  the  gospel  ?  and  been 
more  earnest  about  a  day  of  promised  pleasure, 
than  about  securing  an  eternity  of  pure  celestial 
joy?  Think  not  that  I  mean  to  insinuate,  that 
the  Christian  should  be  the  slave  of  melancholy. 
Far  from  it;  none  have  so  much  reason  to  be 
cheerful  as  he,  who  reads  his  title  clear  to  heaven. 
But,  wide  is  the  difference  between  the  innocent 
cheerfulness  and  humble  joy  of  the  Christian,  and 
the  vain  pleasures  of  a  foolish  world.  The  truly 
religious  have  their  delights;  though  they  know, 
that  there  is 


PLEASURE  —  SABBATH-BREAKING.  6 1 

No  room  for  mirthful  trifling  here 
For  worldly  hope  or  worldly  fear, 

If  life  so  soon  is  gone; 
I  f  now  the  Judge  is  at  the  door. 
And  all  mankind  must  stand  before 

The  inexorable  throne. 

Let  conscience  now  answer,  as  in  the  sight  of 
God  ;  has  the  love  of  worldly  and  sensual  plea- 
sure been  cherished  in  your  heart?  If  your  sit- 
uation has  prevented  your  freely  following  the 
delights  of  sense,  has  th^  love  of  them  dwelt  with- 
in? If  it  has;  though  you  should  not  have  had 
the  opportunity  of  indulging  your  worldly  taste 
once  in  a  month,  or  a  year,  you  are  still,  in  God's 
sight,  as  much  a  lover  of  pleasures,  as  if  these 
had  occupied  every  moment  of  your  time. 

§  8.  Sabbath-breaking,  though  not  confined  to 
the  young,  is  a  sin  that  eternally  ruins  thousands 
of  them.  God  calls  the  sabbath-day  his  own; 
but  makes  the  profit  of  it  ours :  and  sabbaths 
spent  in  holiness,  devotion,  faith,  and  love,  are 
blessings  which  help  the  soul  on  towards  heaven ; 
while,  broken  sabbaths  increase  the  sinnei-'s  load 
of  guilt  here,  and  of  misery  hereafter.  At  the 
beginning  of  time  God  set  this  blessed  day  apart 
for  sacred  uses ;  and  his  express  commandment 
is,  **  Remember  the  sabbath-day  to  keep  it  holy  :'* 
Ex.  XX.  8.  He  calls  for  the  day.  He  does  not 
say,  keep  holy  the  sabbath  morning,  or  the  sab- 
bath afternoon,  or  the  sabbath  evening;  but,  the 
sabbath  day.  Though  this  awful  commandment 
is  thus  positive  and  express ;  yet,  no  sin  is  more 
common  than  sabbath-breaking.  Some  profane 
the  whole  day ;  others  a  part  of  it.  Some  em- 
ploy many  of  the  precious  hours  of  the  sabbath, 
in    attending   to    their    worldly  employments; 


62   YOUTHFUL  SINS — ENTICING  OTHERS  TO  SIN. 

others  make  it  a  season  for  finery  and  gaiety. 
They  go  even  to  the  house  of  God,  merely  to  see 
or  be  seen.  They  idle  away  their  sacred  time,  in 
trifling  conversation,  vain  amusements,  and  silly 
mirth;  or,  waste  the  holy  day,  in  rambling  in  the 
fields  with  companions  as  frivolous  and  worldly 
as  themselves.  Yet  sabbath-breaking  is  the  fruit- 
ful source  of  sin  and  misery.  A  sabbath-break- 
er is  justly  described,  as  "one  who  despises  his 
Maker;  rebels  against  the  King  of  kings,  defies 
his  vengeance,  provokes  his  wrath ;  disgraces  the 
Christian  name ;  tramples  on  the  laws  of  his  coun- 
try ;  ruins  his  own  soul ;  and  poisons  others  by 
his  fatal  example."  And  how  have  your  sab- 
baths  been  spent?  Have  you  been  one  of  the 
thoughtless  young  women,  or  loose  young  men, 
that,  on  the  sabbath-day,  in  giddy,  but  truly  piti- 
able parties,  throng  our  streets,  or  wander  in  our 
fields?  Have  you  been  one,  who  has  made  that 
most  blessed  day  no  blessing  to  yourself  ? 

§  9.  The  apostle  Paul,  when  enumerating 
some  of  the  sins  of  mankind,  concludes  the 
dreadful  list  with  that,  of  their  taking  pleasure  in 
the  sins  of  others:  Rom.  i.  28.  This,  though 
one  of  the  most  awful,  is  one  of  the  most  com- 
mon of  human  iniquities  ;  and  abounds  among 
none  more  than  among  the  young.  Young  per- 
sons are  often  each  othei-*s  tempters  and  destroy- 
ers. The  lewd  and  profane,  tempt  others  to 
lewdness  and  profaneness.  The  thoughtless  and 
the  gay,  persuade  others  to  imitate  their  levity 
and  folly.  As  if  it  were  not  sufliicient  to  have 
their  own  sins  to  account  for,  many  thus  make 
themselves  partakers  in  the  sins  of  others;  and, 
as  if  it  were  not  enough  to  ruin  their  own  souls, 
many  thus  contract  the  guilt  of  assisting  to  de- 


ADDRESS.  63 

stroy  those  of  their  companions  and  friends. 
Have  you  never  thus  led  others  into  sin  ?  Per- 
haps some,  who  are  now  lost  for  ever,  may  be 
lamenting,  in  utter  darkness  and  despair,  the  fa- 
tal hour  when  they  became  acquainted  with  you. 
Have  any  learned  of  you  to  trifle  with  religion ; 
to  squander  away  their  golden  day  of  grace ;  to 
slight  their  God;  and  choose  perdition?  If  not 
by  words,  yet,  perhaps,  by  a  careless  and  irre- 
ligious example,  you  have  taught  them  these 
dreadful  lessons. 

§  10.  I  have  now  named  a  few  youthful  ini- 
quities ;  but,  think  not  that  these  things  are  all. 
No;  every  sin  to  which  our  fallen  nature  is 
prone,  has  been  found,  not  merely  in  those,  who, 
by  years,  were  ripened  in  guilt ;  but,  in  those  al- 
so, who  were  beginning  the  journey  of  life. 
And,  not  to  enumerate  the  darker  crimes  of  the 
multitude,  who  drink  in  iniquity  like  water; 
where,  my  young  friend,  is  the  youthful  heart, 
that  never  felt  the  rising  emotions  of  those  in- 
fernal passions,  pride,  envy,  malice,  or  revenge  ? 
Where  is  the  youthful  tongue  that  never  uttered 
a  profane,  or  wanton,  or,  at  least,  an  unkind,  or 
slanderous  word  ?  Where  is  the  youth,  possess-' 
ed  of  the  forms  of  piety,  that  never  mocked  God, 
"with  solemn  sounds  upon  a  thoughtless  tongue !" 
W  here  is  the  youthful  ear,  that  was  never  open, 
to  drink  in  with  pleasure  the  conversation  of  the 
trifling  and  the  foolish?  and  where  the  youth- 
ful eye,  that  never  cast  a  haughty,  an  angry, 
a  wanton,  or  insulting  glance?  Are  you  the 
person  ?  Can  you  appeal  to  the  Searcher  of 
Hearts,  and  rest  your  eternal  hopes  on  the  suc- 
cess of  the  appeal,  that  love,  unmingled  love  to 
God  and  man,  has  always  dwelt  in  your  bosom; 


64  PRAYER  FOR  A  PENITENT. 

that  no  resentful,  envious,  or  unkind  emotion,  was 
ever,  for  a  moment,  harboured  there ;  that  a  law 
of  constant  kindness  has  ever  dwelt  upon  your 
lips;  that  only  meekness,  and  tenderness,  and 
goodness  have  glanced  from  your  eye ;  and  that 
your  ear  was  never  opened  to  hear,  with  pleasure, 
of  a  brother's  shame  ?  Can  you  make  the  appeal  ? 
Surely  you  cannot.  Your  own  "heart  condemns 
you;  and  God  is  greater  than  your  heart,  and 
knoweth  all  things." 


A  PRAYER  FOR  A  YOUNG  PERSON,  SENSIBLE  OF  BEING,  IN 
A  GREATER  OR  LESS  DEGREE,  GUILTY  OF  THE  SINS 
ENUMERATED  IN  THIS  CHAPTER. 

O  Lord,  the  great,  and  dreadful  God,  whose 
mercies  are  numberless,  I  have  sinned,  and  com- 
mitted iniquity  before  thee.  Permit  me  to  ap- 
proach thee  ;  and  enable  me  to  come  with  all  the 
humility  of  repentance,  and  all  the  ardour  of 
gratitude.  If  I  never  prayed  before,  now  may  I 
learn  to  pray.  Thou  art  the  Father  and  the  God 
of  those,  who  rest  in  heaven  :  and  O  !  show  me 
thy  forgiving  mercy;  and  give  me  that  interest 
in  thy  beloved  Son,  which  shall  prepare  me  to 
join  their  triumphant  family.  But  a  moment  of 
time  separates  me  from  the  dead  !  yet,  alas  !  how 
unprepared  am  I  for  the  solemn  change  of  death ! 
I  see,  I  feel  this  dreadful  truth  ;  but,  how  much 
more  visible  is  it.  Lord,  to  thee  !  Once,  careless 
and  unconcerned,  I  felt  no  alarm  at  the  thought 
of  meeting  thy  pure  and  holy  Majesty.  Ah,  sad 
insensibility !  had  I  then  been  called  to  meet 
thee,  I  must  now  have  been  lifting  up  my  eyes 
in  hopeless  misery.  If,  taught  by  thy  word,  I 
review  my  life,  I  see  it  a  constant  blot.    I  look 


PRAYER  FOR   A  PENITENT.  65 

back  to  my  childhood  ;  and,  behold,  alas  !  how 
soon  the  corrupt  dispositions  of  my  nature  ap. 
peared  !  As  my  years  increased,  my  sins  gain- 
ed strength ;  my  heart  became  more  estranged 
from  thee  ;  and  my  life  more  sinful  in  thy  sight. 
Thou  lovest  humility ;  but,  I  have  been  proud. 
Thou  hast  commanded  me  to  revere  the  authors 
of  my  being ;  to  listen  to  their  counsels  ;  and,  by 
tenderness,  to  requite  their  affection  :  but,  how 
often  have  I  slighted  their  instructions ;  forgot- 
ten their  kindness  ;  been  undutiful  to  them,  and 
in  them  to  thee  !  Thou  hast  directed  me  to  view 
life  as  a  dream ;  and,  as  my  great  concern,  to 
seek  first  thy  kingdom  and  righteousness  :  but, 
I  have  presumed  on  future  days,  and  wasted 
those  thy  mercy  gave  me.  I  have  minded  the 
things  of  time ;  and  forgotten  those  of  eternity. 
Instead  of  seeking  my  happiness  in  Jesus,  and 
in  thee  ;  I  have  sought  delight  amidst  the  follies 
of  time,  and  have  grovelled  upon  earth,  when  I 
should  have  been  soaring  to  heaven.  I  have, 
loved  —  O  most  patient  God !  may  I  dare  to 
confess  it ;  yet,  confess  it  or  not,  thou  knowest 
the  horrible  sin  —  I  have  loved  the  shadowy 
pleasures  of  this  world,  more  than  I  have  loved 
thee.  O,  that  this  stony  heart  might  break  while 
I  acknowledge  my  guilt !  I  have  sunk  lower  than 
the  brutes  that  perish :  they,  formed  for  this 
world,  fill  up  aright  their  places  in  it ;  but  I,  ere- 
ated  to  know  thee,  to  seiTe  thee,  to  love  thee,  and 
to  enjoy  thee  for  ever,  have  yet  grovelled  in  the 
dust. 

Thy  word  directs  me  to  redeem  the  time ;  but. 
Oh  !  how  many  precious  hours,  hours  which  the 
dying  would  give  worlds  to  purchase,  have  I  sin- 
away  !     Alas  !  the  hours  that  I 


66  PRAYER  FOR  A  PENITENT. 

have  wasted  on  frivolous  books,  while  thy  bless- 
ed word  has  been  neglected  !  The  hours  I  have 
squandered  in  trifling  conversation  and  foolish 
mirth,  while  not  one  word  of  my  Redeemer,  or 
thee,  or  thy  goodness,  has  dropped  from  my  lips. 

Thou,  O  Lord,  hast  commanded  me  to  hallow 
the  sabbath ;  but,  I  have  wasted  many  of  those 
sacred  days.  When  thy  children  have  been  reap- 
ing immortal  good  ;  I  have  been  heaping  up 
wrath  against  the  day  of  wrath.  Those  blessed 
seasons,  which  might  have  been  a  foretaste  and  a 
preparative  for  an  eternal  sabbath  in  thy  heav- 
enly courts,  even  those  to  me  have  been  days  of 
thoughtlessness,  sin,  and  folly.  Or,  if  I  have  gone 
to  thy  house  ;  yet,  how  often  have  pride,  vanity, 
and  worldly  pleasures  filled  my  thoughts,  even 
there,  and  I  have  departed  from  thy  sacred 
courts,  unmoved  by  thy  terrors,  uncharmed  by 
thy  love.  When  I  look  back  upon  my  sabbaths, 
what  a  dismal  blank  do  they  appear ! 

To  thee,  O  Lord  God,  belong  mercies  and 
forgiveness,  though  I  have  rebelled  against  thee. 
Thou  hast  not  been  in  all  my  thoughts.  By 
my  ungodly  life,  I  have  said  to  thee,  "  Depart 
from  me,  for  I  desire  not  the  knowledge  of  thy 
ways  ;"  and  though  thy  beloved  Son,  once  cru- 
cified for  my  sins,  has  claimed  my  heart,  I  have 
refused  to  listen  to  his  call.  And,  yet,  I  have  de- 
ceived myself ;  have  deemed  myself  almost  in- 
nocent ;  have  thought  my  life  righteous  ;  and 
treated  humble  piety  with  contempt  and  scorn. 
True  wisdom  I  have  counted  folly,  and  folly  pri- 
zed for  wisdom.  Merciful  Lord,  my  lips,  my 
tongue,  my  eyes,  my  ears,  my  hands,  my  head, 
have  all  sinned  against  thee ;  but,  Oh,  my  heart ! 
the    heart  I  deemed  g-ood,  what  madness  has 


PRAYER  FOR  A  PENITENT.  67 

dwelt  there  !  There  hidden  lay  the  seeds  of  ev. 
ery  sin.  There  have  those  corruptions  abode, 
which  hell  takes  pleasure  in  viewing,  but  which 
heaven  must  mourn  to  see.  There  anger  has 
burned.  There  pride  has  swelled.  There  envy 
nnd  revenge  have  rankled.  There  vanity,  indo- 
lence, discontent,  ingratitude,  and  all  the  detes- 
table brood  of  human  vices,  have  shown  their 
hateful  forms.  There  too  has  reigned  love  for 
the  present  dying  world,  that  love  which  leads  a 
legion  of  iniquities  in  its  train.  And  shall  I  now 
plead,  that  I  am  innocent  ?  Shall  I  now  declare, 
that  my  heart  is  good,  and  my  transgressions 
few  ?  Merciful  God,  forgive  the  blindness  which 
deluded  me  with  thoughts  like  these.  No,  O 
my  injured  Father,  the  smallest  sin  against  thee 
is  huge  as  the  frowning  precipice,  dark  as  the 
shadow  of  death,  and  horrid  as  the  depths  of 
hell ;  and  the  smallest  of  my  crimes  have  been 
as  much  committed  against  thee,  as  the  more 
profligate  actions  of  some,  who  never  enjoyed  the 
mercies  with  which  I  have  been  favoured.  O 
my  God,  as  a  sinner,  I  would  cast  me  at  the 
feet  of  Jesus !  I  cannot  hide  my  guilt  from  thine 
eyes;  let  me  not  hide  it  from  ^pay  own.  Thou 
hast  seen  all  my  sins,  hast  called  on  me  again 
and  again,  and  hast  beheld  the  world  and  Satan 
preferred  to  thyself  Surely  love  like  thine  might 
have  melted  a  rock  of  adamant;  yet,  it  melted  not 
my  heart.  Canst  thou  yet  show  mercy?  Thou 
dost!  O  wonderful  love  !  shall  I  abuse  it  still  ? 
O,  rather  may  my  pulse  cease  to  beat,  and  the 
warm  blood  to  flow  through  my  veins !  Lord, 
lead  me  to  the  rock  that  is  higher  than  I !  Lead 
me  to  the  atoning  blood,  which  washes  all  sin 
awav.     Lead  me  to  Clirist  crucified.     Forg-ive, 


68  RELIGION  NEEDFUL  TO  ALL 

for  his  dear  sake,  the  past ;  and  O,  give  strength 
and  grace  for  the  future !  I  have  lived  long 
enough,  alas,  too  long!  to  the  world,  to  Satan, 
and  myself;  now  let  me  live  to  thee.  Now,  for 
Jesus's  sake,  guide  me  from  sin  to  holiness  ;  from 
folly  to  wisdom;  from  death  to  life;  from  vain 
delight  to  real  joy;  and,  finally,  through  the 
Lamb  that  was  slain,  advance  me  from  earth  to 
heaven,  there  to  praise,  bless,  magnify,  and 
adore  redeeming  love,  through  ages  without  end. 
O  gracious  Lord,  hear  my  requests,  for  Jesus's 
sake,  —  Amen. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE   NATURE  OF  REAL  RELIGION  BRIEFLY  DESCRIBED. 

That  religion  is  the  chief  concern  of  all,  is 
the  declaration  of  the  Most  High ;  and  early 
religion  is  what  he  solemnly  requires.  "Re- 
member now  thy  Creator  in  the  days  of  thy 
youth,  while  the  evil  days  come  not,  nor  the 
years  draw  nigh  when  thou  slialt  say,  I  have  no 
pleasure  in  them."  It  is  as  much  as  if  it  were 
said,  "  Mind  religion  while  you  are  young.  Let 
that  engage  your  earliest  care.  Let  that  possess 
the  first  place  in  your  heart;  for  it  is  worthy  of 
it.  In  the  days  of  your  youth,  those  best  days, 
prepare  to  meet  your  God.  While  young,  make 
him  your  friend  ;  seek  an  enduring  mansion  in 
the  skies;  and  thus,  to  every  other  source  of 
cheerfulness,  add  those  last  and  best,  your  heav- 
enly Father's  care,  and  your  gracious  Saviour's 
love."     The  blessed  Redeemer,  who  spake  as  ne- 

Eccles.  xii.  \. 


BUT,  REGARDED  BY  FEW.  69 

ver  mail  spake,  affectionately  declares  the  impor- 
tance and  value  of  real  piety.  "One  thing  is 
needful."  "What  shall  it  profit  a  man,  if  he 
gain  the  whole  world,  and  lose  his  own  soul  ?" 

Most  persons  will  acknowledge  the  excellen- 
cy and  importance  of  religion ;  yet,  few  are  its 
real  friends.  **Few  there  be  that  find  it."  Ma- 
ny are  entirely  careless  of  it.  Others  have  the 
form  without  the  power.  Others  play  the  hypo- 
crite's part;  they  "speak  fair  words  and  act 
foul  deeds,  lift  their  eyes  to  heaven  and  turn 
their  steps  to  hell."  Religion  is  not,  like  many 
worldly  advantages,  a  blessing  that  descends 
from  parents  to  children,  from  heir  to  heir.  The 
child  of  the  most  pious  parent  is,  by  nature,  as 
destitute  of  the  dispositions  which  constitute  re- 
ligion, as  the  child  of  the  most  profligate.  It  is 
not,  like  the  endowments  of  body  or  mind,  as 
wit,  beauty,  strength,  a  blessing  that  we  nalu- 
rally  possess;  for,  the  dispositions  of  the  mind, 
by  nature,  are  altogether  opposite  to  those  of  re- 
ligion. Nor  is  religion  a  blessing  that  can  be 
acquired  without  opposition  and  difficulty.  The 
command  of  Christ  is,  "Strive  to  enter  in  at  the 
strait  gate."  These  words  import,  contending  in 
the  most  resolute  and  earnest  manner,  and,  as  it 
were,forcing  a  way  through  whatever  may  oppose. 

§  2.  Many,  my  young  friend,  are  the  sources 
whence  this  opposition  arises.  The  corruptions 
of  your  own  heart  will  oppose  the  entrance  of 
divine  truth  into  your  soul.  The  false  and  de- 
ceiving opinions  of  the  world  would  teach  you,  to 
look  on  real  religion  as  enthusiasm,  and  to  treat 
it  with  aversion  and  contempt. '  The  evil  Spirit 
that  great  enemy  of  God  and  man,  by  every  de- 
Luke,  X.  12.    Mark,  viii.  36.    Matt.  vii.  14.    Luke,  xiii.  23. 


70  KATURE   OF  RELIGION. 

lusion  wnich  he  can  present  to  your  mind,  will 
endeavour  to  prevent  your  submitting  to  Jesus 
Christ;  and  often  but  too  successful  are  his  ex- 
ertions. "  The  god  of  this  world  hath  blinded 
the  minds  of  them  which  believe  not ;  lest  the 
light  of  the  glorious  gospel  of  Christ,  should 
shine  unto  them.*' 

And  now,  while  I  endeavour  to  describe  to 
you  what  religion  is,  let  me  beseech  you  to  unite 
your  prayers  with  mine,  that  you  may  indeed  be 
taught  of  God ;  and  let  me  beseech  you  to  at- 
tend as  seriously  to  the  plain  and  affectionate 
truths,  that  may  be  presented  to  you,  as  you 
would  do  if  lying  on  a  dying  bed,  and  there 
earnestly  inquiring  how  salvation  might  be 
found. 

§  3.  Religion  consists  in  such  a  practical 
knowledge  of  our  own  guilt  and  misery,  as  leads 
us  to  abhor  sin  and  ourselves ;  and  in  such  an 
acquaintance  with  the  blessed  God,  and  the  ado- 
rable Saviour,  as  leads  us  to  believe  on  Jesus 
for  salvation,  and  resting  all  our  hopes  upon  his 
atonement  and  righteousness,  to  trust  our  eter- 
nal all  to  his  care ;  and  to  yield  up  ourselves, 
body,  soul,  and  spirit,  to  the  Father  as  our  Fa- 
ther, to  the  Son  as  our  Saviour,  and  to  the  Ho- 
ly Spirit  as  our  Sanctifier. 

§  4.  The  foundation  of  religion  is  laid  in  a 
knowledge  of  our  own  guilt  and  depravity.  As 
sickness  teaches  the  patient  to  prize  the  physi- 
cian's aid ;  as  slavery  leads  the  captive  to  seek 
for  liberty  ;  and  condemnation  makes  the  crimi- 
nal cry  for  mercy :  so  the  knowledge  of  our 
own  condemnation  and  guilt,  prepares  the  soul 
for  the  reception  of  Jesus  Christ.     Are  you  ac- 

.     2  Cor.  iv.  3,  4. 


DEITY  AND  CONDESCENSION  OF  CHRIST.         71 

quainted  with  this  ?  Are  you  sensible  that  you 
have  rebelled  against  a  God  of  love  ?  and  are 
you  penitent  for  your  transgressions  ?  You 
cannot  else  escape  destruction.  The  Lord  has 
declared,  "Except  ye  repent,  ye  shall  all  likewise 
perish."  "  God  now  commandeth  all  men  every- 
where to  repent.'*  This  repentance  consists,  not 
in  a  transient  sorrow  for  sin,  but,  in  such  a  sense 
of  its  evil,  vileness,  and  ingratitude,  as  begets  in 
the  soul  abhorrence  of  it,  and  an  anxious  desire 
for  deliverance  from  its  power  and  punishment. 
§  5.  If  knowledge  of  yourself,  and  of  the  evil 
of  sin,  has  humbled  you  in  the  dust,  and  led  you 
from  the  heart  to  exclaim,  "  God,  be  merciful  to 
me  a  sinner ;"  then,  permit  me  to  add,  that  a  most 
essential  part  of  religion,  is  an  acquaintance  with 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Not  a  mere  speculative 
knowledge  of  his  excellencies,  like  that  which 
even  an  infernal  spirit  may  possess;  but,  such  a 
practical  knowledge  of  his  power  and  grace,  and 
such  a  belief  in  him,  as  subdues  the  soul,  and 
leads  the  penitent  sinner  to  make  Jesus  his  hope, 
his  trust,  and  his  all.  The  substance  of  the  gos- 
pel message  respecting  Jesus  Christ  is,  —  that 
his  nature  is  divine:  "He  was  in  the  beginning 
with  God,  and  was  God."  That  his  own  compas- 
sion and  his  Fathei-'s  love,  led  him  to  assume  the 
nature  of  man :  "He  took  on  him  the  form  of  a 
servant,  and  was  made  in  the  likeness  of  men ;" 
*'  Though  he  was  rich,  for  your  sakes  he  became 
poor,  that  ye  through  his  poverty  might  be  rich." 
That  his  great  object  was  to  atone  for  sin :  "  He 
was  wounded  for  our  transgressions,  he  was 
bruised  for  our  iniquities;  the  chastisement  of 
our  peace  was  upon  him,  and  with  his  stripes  we 

Luke,  xiii,  3.    Act?,  irii.  30.   John,  i.  1.    Phil.  ii.  7.    2  Cor.  vili.  9. 


72  OFFICES  AND  ATONEMENT 

are  healed/*  That  this  wonderful  plan,  for  the 
redemption  of  a  ruined  world,  was  the  effect  of 
the  love  and  wisdom  of  God :  "  God  commend- 
eth  his  love  towards  us,  in  that,  while  we  were 
yet  sinners,  Christ  died  for  us;"  "We  have  re- 
demption through  his  blood,  the  forgiveness  of 
sins,  according  to  the  riches  of  his  grace,  where- 
in he  hath  abounded  towards  us,  in  all  wisdom." 
And,  that  Jesus  Christ  is  now  exalted  at  the  right- 
hand  of  power,  to  intercede  for  his  flock ;  to  guide, 
guard,  and  protect  them  ;  to  receive  them  at  the 
hour  of  death ;  and  hereafter  to  appear  as  the 
Judge  of  all,  when  he  will  pass  on  all  mankind 
the  sentence  that  shall  fix  their  eternal  state,  and 
when  he  will  perfect  the  happiness  of  all  his  hum- 
ble friends.-^ 

§  6.  The  important  doctrine  of  Christ's  atone- 
ment for  the  sins  of  man,  may  receive  a  plain 
and  familiar  illustration,  from  the  history  of  Za- 
leucus,  an  ancient  lawgiver.  Among  his  laws 
was  one,  which  declared,  that  the  eyes  of  an  adul- 
terer should  be  put  out  as  a  punishment  for  his 
sins.  It  so  happened  that  the  king's  own  son 
was  the  first  convicted  of  the  crime.  The  jus- 
tice of  the  lawgiver  called  for  the  execution  of 
the  sentence :  the  pity  of  the  parent  pleaded 
for  its  remission.  What  was  to  be  done?  The 
king  at  length  determined,  that  his  son  should 
lose  one  eye,  and  he  himself  would  lose  one. 
Thus  should  the  sin  be  punished,  though  he  him- 
self would  bear  part  of  the  punishment  due  to 
his  guilty  child.  You  here  see  such  a  stem  re- 
gard to  justice,  as  would  convince  the  whole  na- 
tion, that  the  law  could  not  be  broken  with  im- 
punity;   and,  yet,  such  fatherly  compassion,  as 

Is.liii,  5.  Rom.v.  8.  Ephes.  i.  7,8.    «  New  Test,  many  passages. 


OF  THE  LORD  JESUS  CHRIST.  73 

should  melt  the  heart  of  the  half-pardoned  offend- 
er into  deep  repentance  and  self-abhorrence. 

In  the  case  of  man,  and  m  your  own  case,  sin 
has  deserved  eternal  punishment.  Its  ivages 
(that  recompence  which  it  has  deserved)  is  death. 
The  justice  of  God  called  for  the  execution  of  the 
sentence ;  but,  his  wisdom  devised  a  plan  of  mer- 
cy for  a  rebellious  world;  and  his  compassion 
induced  him  to  adopt  the  plan.  It  was,  that  his 
beloved  Son  should  suffer  for  man,  and  bear  the 
curse  instead  of  him  :  Gal.  iii.  11.  Thus  would 
sin  be  punished;  and  thus  might  the  sinner  be 
entirely  forgiven.  Thus  did  God  give  to  his  whole 
intelligent  creation  an  awful  proof,  that  sin,  in  his 
dominions,  could  not  escape  unpunished.  Yet, 
while  showing  his  infinite  hatred  of  sin,  he  show- 
ed his  infinite  love  to  ruined  man,  in  thus  ap- 
pointing his  beloved  Son  to  stand  in  the  sinner's 
place;  and  in  thus  punishing  in  Christ  the  sins 
of  man,  that  the  penitent  sinner  might  go  free. 

§  7.  An  acquaintance  with  this  divine  Saviour 
is  absolutely  needful  for  you.  He  is  set  forth 
as  the  only  foundation  for  the  sinner's  eternal 
hopes.  His  is  the  only  name  by  which  a  sin- 
ner can  be  saved ;  and  he  is  the  only  way  of  ac- 
cess to  God.  The  way  of  salvation  is,  believing 
on  him  from  the  heart.  "Believe  on  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  and  thou  shalt  be  saved."  "He 
that  belie veth,  and  is  baptized,  shall  be  saved.'* 
But,  my  young  friend,  permit  me  affectionately  to 
caution  you  against  deceiving  your  own  soul  with 
the  shadow  of  belief  instead  of  the  substance;  for, 
in  one  sense,  "  the  devils  believe  and  tremble." 
Believing  in  Jesus  is  termed,  in  scripture,  "be- 
lieving with  the  heart.'*     There  is  the  consent  of 

Acts,  xvi.  31.    Mark,  xvi.  16.    James,  ii,  19.    Rom.  x.  10, 
S 


74  NATURE  OF  SAVING  FAITH. 

the  hearUto  this  plan  of  salvation,  as  well  as  the 
pei*suasion  of  the  mind.  Believing  on  Christ  is 
described  as  a  receiving  of  him.  If  you  believe, 
you  will  receive  him  as  your  Lord,  your  hope, 
your  Saviour,  your  all.  Believing  is  also  de- 
scribed, as  \iiimg?L  persuasion  of  divine  truths,  and 
an  embracing  of  them.  If  you  believe  on  Jesus, 
you  will  be  persuaded,  on  God's  authority,  that 
he  is  what  the  scriptures  represent,  an  all-suffi- 
cient Saviour ;  that  he  has  done  what  the  scrip- 
tures declare  ;  that  he  has  laid  down  his  life  for 
you ;  and  persuaded  of  these  truths,  you  will  em- 
brace this  great  salvation.  Believing  is  repre- 
sented as  0, going  to  Christ;  it  is  such  a  convic- 
tion of  his  power  and  grace  as  is  attended  by  the 
going,  as  it  were,  of  the  soul  to  him  for  life  and 
salvation.  Look  then  to  him.  Rest  your  eter- 
nal all  on  his  righteousness  and  death.  Let  this 
become  your  plea  for  obtaining  mercy  and  hea- 
ven, that  Jesus  loved  you;  that  Jesus  died  for 
you.  Go  in  the  solemn  moments  of  retired  de- 
votion, and  entrust  your  all  to  Jesus.  Can  you 
not  there  say  to  him,  to  whom  darkness  and  day 
are  alike,  "Lord,  I  adore  thee  as  my  Saviour; 
thou  didst  die  for  my  sins,  and  I  commit  my 
eternal  all  to  thee.  Wash  me  in  thy  blood  ;  wash 
not  my  feet  only,  but  also  my  hands  and  my  head. 
Thy  gospel  I  embrace.  AJl  that  thou  discover- 
est,  let  me  believe  ;  all  that  thou  teachest,  let  me 
learn.  Thy  example  I  would  follow.  All  that 
thou  lovest,  let  me  love ;  all  that  thou  hatest,  let 
me  hate ;  and  all  that  thou  commandest,  let  my 
faith,  working  by  love,  urge  me  to  obey.  Be  thou 
my  all;  thy  death  and  righteousness,  my  hope; 

J"hn,  i.  Vi.     Hcb.  \\.  13.     John,  vi.  3-5. 


ENCOURAGEMENT  TO  COME  TO  CHRIST.  75 

thy  life,  my  pattern;  thy  word,  my  rule;  thy 
glory,  my  aim  ;  thy  love,  my  heaven." 

A  well -placed  trust  in  Jesus  Christ  will  be 
found  a  sure  support  for  hope,  and  peace,  and 
joy,  when  all  other  dependences  sink  in  eternal 
ruin,  and  all  other  hopes  are  blasted  in  black  des- 
pair. The  soul,  committed  to  his  care,  will  be  safe 
through  its  little  stay  among  the  objects  of  time 
and  sense ;  and,  what  is  far  more  important,  will 
be  safe  and  happy  when  the  graves  are  giving  up 
their  dead,  when  the  world  is  fleeing  from  the 
majesty  of  its  Maker^s  face,  and  when  creation 
is  perishing  in  final  flames. 

§  8.  But  perhaps  you  ask,  "  Tslay  I  thus  ap- 
proach the  Lord  ?  may  one  so  vile  draw  near  to 
him  with  confidence  ?"  You  may;  his  word  de- 
clares it.  Come,  says  the  compassionate  Jesus, 
"  Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  labour  and  are  hea- 
vy laden,  an^  I  will  give  you  rest."  "  Him  that 
Cometh  to  me  I  will  in  no  wise  cast  out."  "He 
is  able  to  save  to  the  uttermost,  all  that  come  un- 
to God  by  him."  "  Whosoever  will,  let  him  take 
the  water  of  life  freely."  "  Come,  for  all  thmgs 
are  now  ready."  "The  blood  of  Je«us  Christ 
his  Son  cleanseth  from  all  sin."  A  poor  hea- 
then was  once  directed  to  make  atonement  for 
his  sins,  by  driving  iron  spikes  through  his  san- 
dals ;  on  these  to  place  his  naked  feet ;  and  in 
them  to  walk  about  four  hundred  and  eighty 
miles.  He  began  his  painful  journey ;  but,  halt- 
ing under  a  tree,  a  missionary  came,  and  preach- 
ed in  his  hearing  from,  "  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ 
cleanseth  from  all  sin."  While  he  was  preach- 
ing, the  man  rose  up,  threw  away  his  torturing  san- 

Matt.xi.28.    John,  vi.  37.    Hel).vii.25.   Rev.xxii.l7.  Lukc.xir.lT. 
1  John,  i.  7. 


76    CHRIST  THE  CHRISTIAN'S   SOLE  DEPENDENCE. 

dais,  and  exclaimed,  "This  is  what  I  want!*'  and 
became  a  living  witness,  that  the  blood  of  ('hrist 
does  cleanse  from  all  sin.  The  same  way  for  mer- 
cy is  open  to  you.  If  salvation  is  w  hat  you  want, 
you  may  find  it  in  him  who  has  saved  thousands, 
and  who  will  save  thousands  more.  Many  a  pro- 
mise and  many  an  invitation,  unite  to  declare, 
that  you  shall  not  apply  to  him  in  vain. 

§  9.  Numbers  profess  a  regard  to  Christ, 
whose  hopes  are  in  reality  built  upon  themselves; 
and  they  imagine,  that  when  they  have  done  as 
well  as  they  can,  Jesus  will  make  up  the  rest. 
But,  that  knowledge  of  the  Saviour,  in  which  so 
much  of  religion  consists,  leads  to  very  different 
views.  If  you  enjoy  this,  Jesus  Christ  will  be 
your  all.  You  will,  as  a  lost,  helpless,  condemn- 
ed, and  wretched  creature,  come  to  him  for  life. 
Your  whole  trust  will  be  in  him  :  abhorring  your- 
self,  you  will  flee  to  him  as  your  sole  dependence. 
You  will  indulge  no  hope,  from  imagining  that 
your  sins  are  few  or  small;  but,  will  own  them 
desgrving  of  divine  wrath.  You  will  no  longer 
rest  on  the  deluding,  but  absolutely  false  notion, 
that  you  have  done  as  well  as  you  could,  and  that 
therefore  God  will  accept  you;  but,  you  will  be 
humbled  as  a  guilty  creature  at  your  Makei'^s 
feet.  Nothing  past,  nothing  present,  nothing 
future  of  your  own,  must  in  the  slightest  degree, 
be  the  ground  of  your  dependence ;  but,  as  stripped 
of  every  thing,  as  in  yourself  destitute  of  all  good, 
you  must  look  to  the  Lamb  of  God.  A  dying 
minister,  eminent  in  his  day,  once  said  to  a  visi- 
tor that  was  taking  leave  of  him,  "  Sir,  I  am  eve- 
ry day  expecting  my  death ;  but,  I  desire  to  die 
like  the  thief,  crying  to  the  crucified  Jesus  for 
mercy.     I  am  nothing ;  I  have  nothing ;  I  can 


HOLINESS  ESSENTIAL  TO  RELIGION.  77 

do  nothing,  except  what  is  unworthy ;  my  eye, 
and  hope,  and  faith,  is  to  Christ  on  his  cross.  I 
bring  an  unworthiness,  hke  that  of  the  poor  dy- 
ing thief,  unto  him ;  and  have  no  more  to  plead 
than  he.  Like  the  poor  thief,  I  am  waiting  to  be 
received,  by  the  infinite  grace  of  my  Lord,  into 
his  kingdom." 

§  10.  But,  my  young  friend,  do  not  mistake 
the  nature  of  the  gospel ;  or  imagine,  because 
the  soul  is  saved  solely  through  the  obedience 
and  death  of  Christ,  upon  its  believing  in  him, 
that,  therefore,  holiness  of  heart  and  life  is  an 
unimportant  thing.  "  Without  holiness  no  man 
shall  see  the  Lord."  When  Jesus  invites  the 
humbled  soul  to  him,  he  adds,  "  Take  my  yoke 
upon  you,  and  learn  of  me."  He  says,  "  Ye  are 
my  friends,  if  ye  do  whatsoever  I  command  you." 
"  If  a  man  lose  me,  he  will  keep  my  words." 
The  true  Christian's  faith  is  represented,  as  *'  faith 
which  works  by  love ;"  and  without  the  fruits  of 
holiness,  "  faith  is  dead,  being  alone."  The  Son 
of  God  says  to  his  friends,  "  Let  your  light  so 
shine  before  men,  that  they  may  see  your  good 
works,  and  glorify  your  Father  who  is  in  heaven." 
The  apostle  Paul  argues,  that  true  Christians  are 
dead  to  sin ;  and  declares,  that  the  Son  of  God 
gave  himself  for  them,  with  this  design,  "  that  he 
might  redeem  them  from  all  iniquity,  and  purify 
unto  himself  a  peculiar  people,  zealous  of  good 
works."  If  you,  from  your  heart,  receive  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  as  your  Redeemer,  you  will 
also  submit  to  him  as  your  sovereign  Lord; 
you  will  love  the  commandments  of  God,  as  just 
and  holy;    yt)u  will   yield  up  yourself,  body, 

Heb.  xii.  14.    Matt.  xi.  29.    John.  xv.  14.    John,  xiv.  23.    Gal.  v.  6. 
James,  ii.  17.     Matt.  v.  16     Tit.  ii.  14. 


78  THE  CHRISTIAN  NOT  HIS  OWN. 

soul,  and  spirit,  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ:  that 
whether  you  "  live,  you  may  live  to  the  Lord ; 
or  whether  you  die,  you  may  die  to  the  Lord." 
While  religion  leads  you  to  trust  the  Saviour*s 
death,  it  will  lead  you  to  copy  his  life. 

The  great  principle  of  real  holiness,  implant- 
ed in  all  who  truly  embrace  the  gospel,  is,  that 
they  are  now  no  longer  their  own  ;  but,  "bought 
with  a  price,"  the  price  of  "  blood  divine,"  and, 
therefore,  bound  ''to  glorify  God  in  their  body 
and  spirit,  which  are  God's,"  being  now  restored 
to  him,  their  rightful  owner,  and  become  the 
property  of  God.  From  such  a  dedication  of 
the  soul  and  body  to  Christ,  flows  holiness,  far 
superior  to  all  the  mere  moral  goodness  (as  it  is 
termed)  of  the  world.  They  who  are  given  up 
to  Jesus,  wish  to  lose  their  own  will  and  adopt 
his  ;  to  think,  and  act,  and  move,  as  he  would 
have  them.  Hence,  their  desires  after  increasing 
and  perfect  holiness;  for,  they  belong  to  him 
who  is  holiness  itself.  Hence,  their  love  to  a  bet- 
ter world,  and  their  deadness  to  this ;  for,  they 
follow  him,  who  cared  nothing  for  this  world, 
but  whose  home  was  heaven.  Hence,  their  lives 
can  no  longer  be  devoted  to  the  pursuit  of  tri- 
fling vanities ;  for,  they  are  not  their  own,  but 
have  nobler  objects  to  mind  :  they  have  a  hea- 
ven to  reach  ;  a  God  to  glorify ;  and  a  Saviour 
to  honour,  a  Saviour,  whose  command  to  every 
one  of  his  disciples  is,  "  Follow  thou  me."  "  He 
has  left  us  his  example,  that  we  should  follow 
his  steps." 

Take,  my  friend,  a  brief  survey  of  his  charac- 
ter, whom  the  Christian  is  ordered  to  follow. 
Love  was  the  distinguishing  trait  in  the  charac- 

Rom.  xjv.  a  1  Cor.  vi.  20.  1  ?et  ii.  31. 


THE  EXAMPLE  OF  CHRIST.  79 

ter  of  Jesus  Christ.  Love  to  God,  in  the  highest 
degree ;  love  to  man  ;  love  to  friends  ;  and  love 
to  enemies.  —  Love  to  God  swallowed  up  every 
other  passion  in  his  breast.  It  was  his  meat  and 
drink  to  do  his  heavenly  Father's  will ;  as  it 
were,  his  refreshment  and  support,  not  his  la- 
bour and  fatigue.  Here  was  one  mark  of  his 
perfect  love;  and  submission  to  the  will  of  God 
was  another.  In  the  hour  of  his  extremity  his 
language  was,  "The  cup  which  my  Father  hath 
given  me,  shall  I  not  drink  it?"  "not  my  will, 
but  thine  be  done  !"  Frequent  communion  with 
God  in  prayer  and  praise,  displayed  also  the 
heavenly  love  thatglowed  within  his  heart.  —  The 
same  gracious  disposition  appeared  in  him  to- 
wards mankind.  He  never  laughed  at  human 
follies  ;  but,  wept  for  human  sins  and  woes.  He 
laboured  for  the  happiness  of  men.  In  the  midst 
of  poverty,  in  spite  of  opposition,  in  the  pros- 
pect of  death,  he  continued  his  labours;  unhin- 
dered by  calumny,  reproach,  or  ingratitude. 
He  lived,  striving  to  make  happy  some  of  the 
sons  and  daughters  of  Adam;  and  he  died,  to 
open  for  them  that  way  to  heaven  which  none 
shall  ever  shut.  Such  w  as  his  love  to  man.  — To 
his  friends  how  tender !  Read  his  discourse  to 
them,  and  his  prayers  for  them,  in  John's  Gos- 
pel, C.  14,  to  C.  17,  and  there  behold  the  expres- 
sions of  his  love. — To  his  enemies  how  kind! 
Let  his  behaviour  witness  this,  when  he  shed 
tears  for  them  who  shed  his  blood ;  or  when  up- 
on his  cross  he  prayed,  "  Father,  forgive  them, 
for  they  know  not  what  they  do."  He  was  meek 
when  insulted;  calm  when  provoked;  ready  to 
forgive  an  injury,  and  not  to  revenge  himself  up- 

Jobn,  jv.  3-1 ;  xviii.  11  Lnke,  xxii.  42;  xxiii.  34. 


80  THE  TRUE  CHRISTIAN 

on  the  injurer.  No  selfish  passion  dwelt  within 
his  breast.  Though  rich,  he  had  become  poor, 
that  through  his  poverty  he  might  make  many- 
rich.  He  lived  and  died  for  others.  His  max- 
ims were  like  himself,  or  like  those  of  the  hea- 
ven from  which  he  came ;  not  like  those  of  the 
earth  on  which  he  abode.  "  Do  good  to  them 
that  hate  you."  "All  things  whatsoever  ye 
would  that  men  should  do  to  you,  do  ye  even 
the  same  to  them."  "It  is  more  blessed  to  give 
than  to  receive."  "  Lay  not  up  for  yourselves 
treasures  upon  earth  ;  but,  lay  up  for  yourselves 
treasures  in  heaven."  Wherever  the  precious 
gospel  is  embraced,  and  Jesus  followed,  a  change, 
most  truly  glorious  and  divine,  will  take  place. 
Under  its  heavenly  influence  man  becomes  a 
"new  creature;  old  things  pass  away,  and  all 
things  become  new."  Let  the  passionate  come 
to  Jesus;  and  mildness,  in  their  breast,  will  take 
the  place  of  anger.  The  covetous  will  grow  libe- 
ral ;  and  from  loving  to  grasp  all  they  can,  will 
love  to  part  with  the  utmost  in  their  power. 
The  proud  become  humble.  Drunkards  learn 
sobriety;  and  liars  love  the  truth.  Thieves  be- 
come honest.  Sabbath-breakers  improve  the  sa- 
cred days  they  wasted  once.  The  prayerless 
learn  to  pray,  and  find  their  duty  and  their 
pleasures  united  in  devotion.  The  hard-heart- 
ed change  their  natures  for  compassion.  The 
implacable  learn  to  forgive,  as  they  hope  to  be 
forgiven.  The  earthly-minded  renounce  the 
things  of  earth,  and  seek  their  treasures  in  hea- 
ven. The  man  who  trembled  almost  at  a  sha- 
king reed,  becomes,  in  his  Redeemer's  cause, 

2  Cor.  viii.  9.  Matt.  v.  44.  Matt.  Tii.  12.  Acts,  xx.  35. 

Matt.  vi.  19,  20.  2  Cor.  v.  17. 


A  NEW  CREATURE.  81 

fearless  as  a  lion.  And  they  who  have  been  ad- 
dicted to  what  are  commonly  esteemed  the  most 
incurable  vices,  under  the  influence  of  true  reli- 
gion, chanire  pollution  for  purity,  wickedness  for 
holiness,  and  the  likeness  of  devils  for  the  like- 
ness of  God.  It  is  true,  these  glorious  victories 
of  divine  truth  and  love  often  pass  unnoticed  by 
the  world.  No  trumpet  sounds  the  Christian's 
fame.  No  herald  tells  of  his  deathless  victories. 
He  often  lives  and  dies,  honoured  by  his  God, 
and  happy  in  him,  though  little  known  by  man. 

"Full  many  a  gem,  of  purest  ray  serene, 
The  dark  unfathom'd  caves  of  ocean  bear; 

Full  many  a  flower  is  born  to  blush  unseen, 
And  waste  its  sweetness  on  the  desert  air." 

There  are  few  situations  in  which  Christian* 
can  show  those  bright  specimens  of  glowing  pi- 
ety, which  dazzle  the  eyes  of  others  :  but,  that 
steady,  humble,  constant  piety ;  those  secret  de- 
sires for  holiness  and  heaven;  that  private,  daily 
converse  with  God  in  prayer;  that  cheerful,  firm 
dependence  on  the  atoning  Saviour;  and  those 
attempts,  in  the  retired  scenes  of  domestic  life, 
to  live  as  apostles  would  have  lived,  if  }jlaced  in 
a  like  situation  —  all  this  flows  from  foiiouing  Je- 
sus, as  sureh'^  as  water  flows  from  a  fountain.  All 
this  is  the  effect  of  being  not  our  own,  but  of  hav- 
ing Christ  live  in  us,  and  being  given  up  to  the 
Lord.  If  we  were  wandering  in  an  unknown 
country,  and  having  lost  our  way,  had  entrusted 
ourselves  to  a  guide;  should  we  not  renounce  our 
own  judgment,  and  our  own  will,  and  be  so  at 
our  leadei*^s  disposal,  that  we  might  almost  be 
said  to  move  with  his  feet,  and  to  see  with  his 
eyes?  Such  is  the  case  in  religion.  We  have 
lost  our  way  to  a  better  world ;  and,  if  Christiani 
3^ 


82  KNOWLEDGE   OF  GOD  THE  FATHER 

indeed,  shall  commit  ourselves  to  Jesus*s  care,  to 
be  saved  by  him,  in  his  way,  by  grace  alone;  yet, 
to  go  where  he  bids;  to  do  what  he  enjoins;  to 
live  as  he  directs;  to  love  what  he  loves ;  to  hate 
what  he  hates ;  to  shun  what  he  commands  us 
to  avoid ;  to  sit  at  his  feet  and  learn  of  him  ;  and 
to  "follow  the  Lamb  whithersoever  he  goeth." 

§  11.  Closely  connected  with  the  knowledge 
of  the  Son,  is  the  knowledge  of  the  Father ;  in- 
deed, so  closely,  that  they  cannot  be  separated. 
"This  is  life  eternal;  to  know  thee,  the  only  true 
God,  and  Jesus  Christ,  whom  thou  hast  sent.'' 
Jesus  was  "God  manifest  in  the  flesh."  In  him 
shone  such  a  lively  picture  of  the  Father's  excel- 
lencies, that  "he  who  hath  seen  him  hath  seen 
the  Father."  Yet,  it  is  proper  to  remind  you, 
that  Jesus  is  your  way  to  God.  The  design  of 
Christ  is,  to  bring  you  to  the  Father,  and  recon- 
cile you  to  him.  He  is  the  mediator,  or  inter- 
cessor, by  whom  you  may  find  acceptance  with 
your  most  compassionate  but  much-injured  God. 
The  glorious  perfections  of  God  claim  your  most 
devout  reverence  and  admiration.  Such  is  his 
infinite  majesty,  that  this  vast  world,  with  all  its 
islands,  all  its  continents,  all  its  nations,  is  in 
his  sight  as  the  small  dust  on  the  balance,  or  the 
drop  of  a  bucket.     Before  him, 

"Worms,  angels,  men,  in  every  different  sphere. 
Are  equal  all;  for,  all  are  nothing  here." 

Such  is  his  power,  that  in  an  instant  he  could 
create  a  thousand  worlds,  and  in  another  instant 
could  destroy  them  all.  Such  is  his  knowledge, 
that  he  knows  whatever  has  been,  through  the 
eternity  that  is  past ;  and  whatever  will  be,  through 

John,  xvii.  3.   1  Tim.  iii.  16.  John,  xiv.  9.  John,  xiv.  6.  2  Cor.  v.  18 
Is.  xl.  15. 


ESSENTIAL  TO  RELIGION.  83 

the  eternity  to  come.  He  is  acquainted  with  the 
actions,  words,  and  thoughts,  of  every  one  that 
ever  lived  on  the  earlli;  he  sees  what  now  are 
ours,  and  what  will  be  those  of  all  the  nations 
that  are  yet  unborn.  Such  is  his  love,  that,  for 
the  sake  of  saving  a  lost  race,  he  gave  up  to  hu- 
miliation, sorrow,  and  death,  his  best-beloved 
Son,  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  partner  of  his 
throne,  "the  brightness  of  his  glory,  and  the  ex- 
press image  of  his  person."  "Thousand  thou- 
sands minister  unto  him,  and  ten  thousand  times 
ten  thousand  stand  before  him."  It  is  against 
this  great  and  dreadful,  though  gracious  God, 
that  you  have  rebelled ;  but,  the  blessed  Jesus 
would  lead  you  back  to  him.  If  you  obey  the 
gospel,  God  will  become  your  Father.  To  him 
you  will  yield  up  what  you  have  and  are,  as  a 
reasonable  sacrifice.  In  him  you  will  seek  your 
happiness;  and  in  his  presence  your  eternal  rest. 
To  know  him,  to  love  him,  and  to  enjoy  his  fa. 
vour,  will  be  the  highest  ambition  of  your  soul. 

"Give  what  thou  wilt,  without  thee  we  are  poor; 
And  with  thee  rich,  take  what  thou  wilt  away." 

Every  mercy  comes  from  God ;  and  every  mer- 
cy should  lead  you  nearer  and  nearer  to  him. 
The  first  and  greatest  of  the  commandments  is, 
to  love  him.  Sin,  indeed,  has  made  you  live,  not 
to  God,  but  to  yourself;  selfish  and  lower  views 
have  ruled  in  your  heart :  but,  if,  by  the  gospel, 
you  are  led  back  to  God,  he  will  be  your  happi- 
ness, and  his  glory  your  aim.  It  will  be  your 
desire  to  be  conformed  to  his  will ;  your  pleasure 
to  please  him,  so  that  truly,  "you'll  live  to  plea- 
sure, while  you  live  to  God."  Your  interests,  and 
those  of  your  Creator,  will  be  no  longer  disjoined 

Heb.  i.  3.  Dan.  rii.  10. 


84  THE   HOLY  SPIRIT,  AND 

and  opposite,  but  again  united.  Your  wish  will 
be,  that  his  will  may  be  done  m  you;  that  his 
will  may  done  hy  you ;  and  that  his  will  may 
be  be  done  ivith  you. 

§  12.  A  very  important  part  of  religion  is,  a 
knowledge  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  Men,  when  first 
awakened  to  regard  divine  things,  often  imagine, 
that  their  own  endeavours  are  to  produce  in  them 
those  graces  which  real  religion  displays.  The 
word  of  God,  on  the  other  hand,  represents  them, 
as  formed  by  the  Holy  Spirit.  The  Holy  Spirit 
is  promised  to  them  that  ask  for  his  aid.  The 
Christian  is  "born  of  the  Spirit."  The  Spirit  is 
sent,  to  "convince  the  world  of  sin.*'  By  the 
power  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  "the  love  of  God  is 
shed  abroad  in  the  heart."  By  him  hope  abounds 
in  the  believer ;  his  mind  is  enlightened  ;  he 
is  sanctified  and  strengthened  by  the  Spirit  of 
God.  By  the  Spirit  he  is  taught  to  cry,  "Abba 
Father;"  and  "love,  joy,  peace,  long-suffering, 
gentleness,  goodness,  faith,  meekness,  tempe- 
rance," are  the  fruits  of  the  Spirit. 

All  the  graces  of  the  Christian  character,  all 
the  parts  of  holiness,  are  thus  produced  by  the 
Spirit  of  God  ;  and  w  hile  you  are  assured,  that 
"  without  holiness  no  man  shall  see  the  Lord  ;" 
you  are  taught,  to  look  to  God  for  his  Spirit  to 
form  your  heart  anew.  While  it  is  to  be  your 
aim,  to  glorify  God  in  all  things ;  your  dependence 
for  ability  to  do  so,  is  to  be  on  the  promised  Spi- 
rit. Yet,  think  not,  that,  on  this  account,  sloth 
and  negligence  in  religious  matters  will  be  excu- 
sed. The  abuse,  which  Satan  and  the  world 
would  have  you  make  of  this  evangelical  doc- 

l.iike,  xi.  13.     Johu.  iii.  6.    John,  xri.  8.     Rom.  t.  5.     Rom.  xv.  13 
J  Cor.  ii.  12.     1  Cor.  vi.  U.     Eplies.  lii.  IG.     Gal.  iv.  6.     Gal  v.  22. 
£leb,  xii.  U.     Johu,  vii.  .37,  39. 


RIGHT  IMPROVEMENT  Of  HIS   GRACE.  85 

trin€,  is,  that  if  the  work  is  thus  God's,  you  need 
not  trouble  yourself  respecting  it.  A  sure  guide, 
the  Lord  himself,  makes  a  widely  different  infer- 
ence. That  he  "  works  in  you,  both  to  will  and 
to  do,'*  is  made  by  him  the  reason,  why  you 
"should  work  out  your  salvation  with  fear  and 
trembling."  When  the  husbandman  in  spring 
scatters  his  seed  on  the  ground,  he  cannot  make 
one  com  produce  a  blade,  nor  one  blade  produce 
an  ear ;  but,  God,  by  his  secret  working,  makes 
the  seed  vegetate,  clothes  the  field  with  green, 
and,  in  the  appointed  weeks  of  harvest,  loads  it 
with  waving  ears  of  ripened  corn.  Who  produ- 
ced this  harvest  ?  Not  man,  but  God.  Yet, 
would  God  have  produced  it  if  the  husbandman 
had  neither  ploughed  nor  sowed  his  field  ?  He 
would  have  had  no  crop  to  reap  if  he  had  plead- 
ed; "The  work  is  God's,  so  I  need  not  labour.'* 
As  it  is  in  this  case,  so  it  is  in  religion.  The 
work  is  God's,  and  his  shall  be  the  praise ;  yet, 
man  must  use  the  means,  and  labour  for  his  own 
salvation.  He  can  no  more  change  his  own 
heart,  than  he  can  make  the  hard  earth  bear 
fruit ;  but,  let  him  use  the  means  which  his  Re- 
deemer puts  in  his  power,  and  God  will  give  the 
blessing,  through  his  abounding  grace.  But,  if, 
because  salvation  is  of  grace,  and  holiness  by 
the  Spirit  of  God,  men  neglect  the  means,  and 
labour  not  for  their  own  salvation;  they  have  no 
more  prospect  of  eternal  happiness,  than  a  hus- 
bandman would  have  of  reaping  an  abundant 
crop,  who  never  concerned  himself  with  sowing 
a  single  grain.  If  you  turn  to  God,  and  believe 
on  Christ,  you  will  be  "  a  temple  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  •"  and  should  not  his  temples  be  holy  ? 

Phil.  ii.  12, 13.  1  Cor.  iii.  16. 

3^* 


86  THE  CHRISTIAxN'S  CHOICE 

With  him  working  in  your  heart,  how  inexcusa- 
ble would  you  be  to  continue  the  slave  to  sin  ! 

Thus  you  see  what  religion  is.  It  consists  not 
in  a  round  of  outward  forms,  though,  if  it  be  en- 
joyed, outward  privileges  will  be  prized  and  im- 
proved ;  it  consists  not  in  the  strictest  mere  mo- 
rality, though,  if  it  influence  the  heart,  holiness 
must  surely  follow :  but,  in  such  a  knowledge  of 
God  in  Christ,  as  makes  believers  his  and  not 
their  own. 

§  13.  If  religion  be  chosen  by  you,  you  will 
determine,  in  God's  strength,  to  abide  by  your 
choice  to  your  latest  day.  While  the  almost 
Christian  halts  between  the  world  and  Jesus, 
those  who  really  flee  to  him,  do  so  to  be  his  de- 
cidedly. "The  world  will  laugh  at  me,"  may 
the  young  Christian  say  :  "  well,  let  it  laugh  ; 
if  I  may  but  enjoy  the  smile  of  God,  I  can  bear 
the  senseless  laugh  of  men !  The  world  will 
frown  on  me :  well,  let  it  frown ;  it  frowned 
on  my  IMaster  before  me,  and  the  disciple  is 
not  greater  than  his  Lord  !"  If  you  flee  to  Jesus, 
you  will  flee  to  him  to  be  his,  not  only  deci- 
dedly, but  for  ever.  You  will  view  religion  as  a 
blessing,  chosen  once,  but  chosen  for  life.  You 
will  value  it  as  the  one  thing  needful,  compared 
with  which,  suffering  or  delight,  life  or  death  be- 
low, are  nothing.  You  will  view  his  gospel 
as  a  blessing,  most  valuable  in  itself,  and  most 
important  to  you,  though  there  were  not  another 
person  on  the  face  of  the  globe.  As  a  blessing 
so  inexpressibly  valuable  and  momentous,  that 
you  would  prize  it,  though  it  were  neglected 
by  every  human  being  but  yourself,  and  though 
all  the  nations  of  the  earth  should  unite  to  deter 
you  fro'^-'  embracing  it.     Such  was  the  spirit  of 


OF  RELIGION  A  LASTING  CHOICE.  87 

the  martyrs.  Their  religion  was  not  a  bless- 
ing- valued  merely  when  the  sun  of  prosperity 
shone  ;  but,  one  to  which  they  clung  when  the 
storms  of  adversity  and  persecution  beat  upon 
them,  and  when  the  hour  came  that  Christ  or 
life  should  be  resigned.  Though  not  called  to 
martyrdom,  yet,  that  high  degree  of  value  for 
Christ,  which  animated  them,  must  dwell  in  your 
heart,  or  your  religion  will  be  an  empty  name ; 
for,  the  Lord  has  declared,  "  He  that  loveth  father 
or  mother  more  than  me,  is  not  worthy  of  me; 
and  he  that  loveth  son  or  daughter  more  than 
me,  is  not  worthy  of  me  ;  and  he  that  taketh  not 
his  cross,  and  followeth  after  me,  is  not  worthy 
of  me."  "Whosoever  he  be  of  you  that  forsa- 
keth  not  all  that  he  hath,  he  cannot  be  my  dis- 
ciple." 

§  14.  You  have  already,  in  one  or  two  instan- 
ces, been  referred  to  the  parable  of  the  prodigal 
son ;  permit  me  to  refer  you  to  it  more  at  large, 
as  affording  a  beautiful  description  of  real  reli- 
gion. In  its  first  part  (Luke,  XV.  11  — 16),  you  have 
a  picture  of  man  while  destitute  of  real  piety; 
a  picture,  my  young  friend,  of  what  you  yourself 
have  been.  The  prodigal  loses  all  affection  for 
his  father  ;  wanders  from  him  ;  squanders  his  all, 
as  if  distracted ;  and  plunges  deep  in  sin  and 
misery.  You  have  wandered  from  a  kinder  Fath- 
er :  and,  as  you  were  shown  in  Chapter  II,  have 
acted,  towards  God,  the  prodigal's  part.  His  sin 
was  followed  by  misery  ;  and,  unless  you  repent, 
your's  must  be  by  eternal  ruin.  But  he  repented. 
In  the  second  part  of  the  parable,  verses  17  — 19, 
is  contained  a  lively  description  of  the  nature  of 
real  repentance.      He  came  to  himself;  be  felt 

Watt  X.  37,  33.  Luke,  xiT.  33. 


88       RELIGION  ILLUSTRATED  FROM  LUKE,  XY. 

his  misery ;  he  was  humbled  for  his  sin  and  folly ; 
longed  for  the  meanest  place  in  his  father's  house; 
and  arose  to  seek  forgiveness.  Such  is  repentance. 
The  once  careless  sinner,  the  thoughtless  trifler 
comes,  as  it  were,  to  his  right  mind  ;  he  sees  that 
in  neglecting  humble  piety,  and  wandering  from 
his  God  and  Saviour,  he  has  acted  as  if  bereft  of 
sense  and  reason  ;  he  abhors  his  sin  ;  he  is  hum- 
bled for  it ;  he  longs  for  a  place,  though  it  be  the 
meanest  in  the  family  of  God  ;  religion,  which 
he  once  scorned,  is  now  the  object  of  his  anxious 
wish  ;  and,  in  sincerity  and  truth,  he  turns  from 
the  ways  of  sin  to  seek  his  God.  The  reception 
the  prodigal  met  with,  verses  20  —  24,  displays  the 
nature  of  the  gospel.  No  sooner  did  he  sin- 
cerely repent  and  apply  for  mercy,  than  he  found 
it.  His  father  welcomed  him  to  his  bosom  ;  and 
received  him  as  his  son  again.  Yet,  observe,  he 
had  done  nothing  to  deserve  his  favour.  It  was 
not  of  works  (through  any  works  of  his);  for,  he 
had  returned  to  his  parent  a  wretched,  destitute 
outcast :  yet,  no  sooner  did  he  return,  than  he 
was  fully  and  freely  forgiven  ;  his  transgressions 
were  blotted  out ;  and  he  restored  at  once  to  his 
father's  favour.  Such  is  the  grace  displayed  to 
you  in  the  gospel.  It  is  as  free;  it  is  as  full. 
No  works  of  yours  can  deserve  the  favour  of 
your  God  ;  you  have  none  that  are  worthy  of 
his  regard.  What  had  the  prodigal?  But,  he 
was  immediately  and  freely  forgiven ;  so  will 
you  be,  if  you  come  to  God  by  Christ.  You  are, 
in  a  spiritual  sense,  as  destitute,  as  wretched,  as 
guilty  as  he ;  but,  mercy  as  great  is  ready,  at 
once,  upon  your  believing  from  the  heart  on 
Christ,  to  forgive  you,  and  save  you,  and  make 
you  a  child  of  the  Most  High.     Observe  one 


NATURE  OF  CHRISTIAN  OBEDIENCE.  89 

particular  more.  The  prodigal,  thus  freely  par- 
doned, was  admitted  again  as  a  son  into  his  fath- 
er's family.  What  would  be  his  conduct  there  ? 
Surely  every  motive  of  gratitude  and  love,  would 
urge  him  to  obey  his  fathei-'s  will :  but,  the  mo- 
tive would  not  be,  that  he  might  find  mercy,  for  he 
had  found  it ;  it  would  not  be,  to  gain  admission 
into  his  father's  house,  for  he  had  gained  it :  far 
nobler  motives,  the  motives  of  love,  would  influ- 
ence his  conduct.  Such  is  the  obedience,  which 
I  have  described  as  the  fruit  of  religion.  Evan- 
gelical obedience  springs  from  love,  that  love 
which  faith  produces.  The  true  Christian  serves 
God,  not  to  gain  admission  into  his  Fathei^'s 
family;  for,  when  he  came  to  Christ  he  gained  this 
blessing:  but,  he  renders  to  him  the  obedience  of 
a  child,  thankful  for  a  thousand  favours.  "He 
is  justified  by  faith  alone,  yet  not  by  a  faith  which 
is  alone,  but  which  contains  the  seeds  of  univer- 
sal obedience;'^  and  having  found  mercy  of  the 
Lord,  he  lives  to  God.  The  difference  between 
the  state  of  mind  in  a  person  hoping  to  gain  hea- 
ven, by  his  defective  obedience,  and  that  of  the 
person,  justified  by  faith,  is  well  described  in  the 
following  lines  of  one  of  Cowper's  hymns  : 

"Tlien  all  my  servile  works  were  doue 

A  righteousness  to  raise; 
Now,  freely  chosen  in  the  Son, 

I  freely  choose  his  ways, 

"What  shall  I  do,  was  then  the  word. 

Til  at  I  may  worthier  grow ' 
What  shall  I  render  to  the  Lord  } 

Is  my  inquiry  now. 

"To  see  the  law  by  Christ  fulfil'd, 
*'    And  hear  his  pard'ning  voicis. 
Changes  a  slave  into  a  child, 
And  dntv  into  choice 


90  EARLY  PIETY  DISPLAYED  BY 

§  15.  Having  now  described  to  you  what  reli. 
gion  is,  it  may  seem  almost  superfluous  to  add, 
that  early  piety  consists  in  your  thus  becoming 
a  disciple  of  Christ  in  your  youthful  days.  If 
this  be  your  wisdom  and  happiness,  you  will  give 
your  youth  to  God.  You  will  listen  to  him,  say- 
ing, "Wilt  thou  not  from  this  time  cry  unto  me. 
My  Father,  thou  art  the  guide  of  my  youth  ?" 
and  the  language  of  your  heart  will  be,  "Bless- 
ed God,  by  thy  help,  I  will.  I  consecrate  the 
morning  of  my  life  to  thee.  I  owe  thee  as  much 
as  eternity  can  acknowledge.  Take  then,  O  take 
the  little,  yet  the  best,  that  I  can  offer;  the  prime, 
the  flower  of  my  days.  JMost  young  persons  a- 
round  me  are  ruled  by  the  maxims  of  a  corrupt 
world;  sinful  nature  governs  them;  evil  com- 
panions lead  them  astray;  and  Satan  urges  them 
to  perdition :  but.  Lord,  I  will  listen  to  thy  voice. 
Be  thou  my  guide  through  all  the  slippery  paths 
of  youth.  I  cry  to  thee  as  my  Father;  I  seek 
thee  now  as  such ;  and  let  me  love  and  obey  thee 
as  a  friend,  to  whom  my  welfare  is  dearer  than  it 
is  to  myself." 

If  early  piety,  my  young  friend,  be  yours,  in 
youth  you  will  forsake  the  world,  and  dare  to  stand 
up  for  God  and  religion.  While  thousands  of 
the  young  are  building  all  their  hopes  upon  this 
fleeting  scene;  yours  will  be  fixed  on  things  un- 
seen and  eternal:  while  they  are  trifling  with 
the  Saviour's  love,  you  will  gladly  listen  to  his 
voice,  and  learn  of  him.  Yes,  in  youth,  you 
will  accept  the  proffered  Saviour.  To  him  you 
will  flee,  and  to  him  may  you  say,  "Dear  Lord, 
my  youth  is  thine.  I  gla<ily  yield  to  thee  the 
best  of  my  hasty  life ;  gladly  for  thy  sake  renounce 
a  deceiving  world.     For,  6 1  what  didst  thou  not 


EARLY  SELF-DEDICATION  TO  CHRIST.  91 

yield  up  for  me  !  It  is  but  a  few  false  vanities 
that  I  resign,  when  resigning  the  world  for  thee; 
and  while  I  part  with  a  little  dross,  in  thee  I  shall 
find  inestimable  treasures.  Blessed  Jesus,  thou 
didst  part  with  real  happiness  on  my  account. 
Brighter  glories,  than  thy  angels  wear,  thou  didst 
resign  for  me.  Thou  didst  forego  on  my  account, 
nobler  joys  than  those  to  which  I  aspire  in  thy 
presence.  Take  then  my  youth.  Too  much  of 
it  has  ah'eady  been  lost ;  but.  Lord,  accept  its  re- 
mains; and  let  not  another  of  my  days  be  spent 
in  the  service  of  a  world,  that  murdered  thee ; 
or  of  thy  great  enemy  and  mine.  "Love  so 
amazing,  so  divine,"  as  is  thy  love,  demands  my 
youth,  "my  soul,  my  life,  my  all." 

Thus,  my  young  friend,  if  true  piety  is  yours, 
must  you  renounce  all  that  religion  opposes ;  thus 
change  your  object,  your  master,  and  your  way; 
and  thus  devote  j'ourself  altogether  to  him,  who 
died  on  your  account.  Without  this,  to  hope  for 
heaven,  is  as  distracted  as  it  would  be,  if  you  threw 
yourself  from  the  top  of  a  precipice,  to  hope  that 
you  should  not  fall.  It  is  hoping  against  hope. 
The  word  of  God  is  plain,  that,  without  conver- 
sion, there  is  no  salvation. 

§  16.  Many  persons  eminent  for  piety,  when 
devoting  themselves  to  the  Lord,  have  done  so  in 
a  written  form  of  solemn  self-dedication;  and 
many  pious  divines  have  recommended  this  prac- 
lice.  The  following  is  a  short  form  of  this  kind, 
a  copious  and  excellent  one  is  given  in  Dodd- 
ridge's Rise  and  Progress  of  Religion  in  the  Soul. 

Great  and  ever  blessed  God,  I  humbly  ap- 
proach thee,  to  engage  myself  to  thee  in  a  cove- 
nant that  I  hope  shall  never  be  forgotten.  Feel- 
ing that  everlasting  salvation  is  of  more  conse- 


©2  A  FORM   OF  SOLEMN 

quence  to  me  than  a  thousand  worlds  could  be, 
and  knowino^  that  I  am  under  infinite  obliga- 
tions to  yield  up  myself  to  thee,  I  solemnly  de- 
clare, that  I  take  thee  as  my  God. 

I  sincerely  renounce  this  present  evil  world : 
I  will  not  seek  my  portion  in  it;  and  its  sinful 
customs,  vanities,  and  delights,  T  give  up;  while 
in  the  world,  it  shall  be  my  part,  to  live  as  not  of 
it,  but  as  a  traveller  to  a  heavenly  country. 

I  solemnly  take  thee  as  my  Father ;  in  thy  fa- 
vour and  love  I  will  seek  my  happiness,  and  in 
thy  presence  my  rest.  I  yield  up  myself  to  thee, 
to  be  disposed  of  according  to  thy  will,  and  to 
be  governed  by  thy  laws. 

I  receive  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  my  Saviour; 
I  confess  myself  an  unworthy  and  miserable  sin- 
ner ;  I  look  upon  thee,  O  Lord  Jesus,  as  sent  by 
God  to  suffer  for  me;  as  my  atoning  Saviour  I 
receive  thee^,  and  would  rest  all  my  hopes  on  thy 
atoning  death  and  perfect  righteousness ;  and  I 
give  up  myself  to  thee,  to  be  thy  disciple  and  to 
follow  thee. 

As  solemnly  would  I  give  up  myself  to  the 
Holy  Spirit  as  my  Sanctifier;  praying  that  his 
divine  illuminations  may  eniighten  my  mind, 
and  his  powerful  influences  completely  change 
my  heart.  By  his  teaching  I  would  be  taught, 
and  his  influence  I  will  seek. 

Thus  I  give  up  the  world  for  thee,  O  my  God  : 
and  solemnly  yield  up  myself,  body,  and  soul, 
and  spirit,  to  thee,  O  Father,  as  my  Father ;  to 
the  Son,  as  my  Saviour ;  to  the  Holy  Spirit,  as 
my  Sanctifier:  and  now,  with  thee  for  my  wit- 
ness, I  confirm  this  holy  engagement. 

And,  O  blessed  God,  I  enter  into  it  solemnly ; 
for,  I  do  it  as  in  thy  siglit. 


SELF-DEDICATION  TO  GOD.  9S 

Fully ;  for,  I  make  no  secret  reservation,  but 
would  be  entirely  thine. 

Freely ;  for,  no  constraint  compels  me,  but  it  is 
the  choice  to  which  thy  grace  has  led  me. 

Deliberately ;  for,  I  have  considered  what  I  am 
now  doing-. 

And  for  ever ;  for,  this  is  the  choice  to  which, 
by  thy  help,  I  will  adhere  till  death  removes  me 
to  meet  my  God. 

A  PRAYER  FOR  A  YOUNG   PERSON,    DESIROUS    OF    COMING 
TO  GOD  AND  CHRIST   FOR  HAPPINESS. 

Blessed  and  glorious  God,  thou  art  the  happi- 
ness of  heaven ;  and  saints  and  angels  find  eter- 
nal good  in  thee.  All  thy  family,  in  those  man- 
sions above,  are  satisfied  in  thy  likeness,  and 
drink  of  the  river  of  thy  pleasures.  Thin  is  the 
veil  which  separates  me  from  the  eternal  world  -, 
but,  wide  the  gulf  that  would  have  divided  me 
from  their  society,  their  pleasures,  and  their  praise. 
A  guilty  child  of  man,  I  knew  thee  not.  Corrupt 
and  averse  to  good,  I  sought  thee  not.  Ignorant 
and  blind,  I  walked  in  darkness ;  and,  yet,  I 
thought  I  saw.  Enslaved  as  the  wretch  that  is 
bound  in  fetters  of  iron,  and  helpless  as  he  who 
has  lost  every  limb,  I  still  knew  not  my  captivity, 
and  felt  not  my  helplessness.  Thus,  gracious 
God,  I  might  have  continued,  till  the  flames  of 
hell  had  flashed  before  my  departed  and  trem- 
bling  spirit,  if  thy  mercy  had  not  interposed. 
But,  O,  eternal  praises  to  thy  name !  that  thou 
hast  pitied,  that  thou  hast  helped  a  creature  lost 
like  me !  Glory  be  to  thee,  that  I  hear  of  mercy ! 
Glory  m  the  highest,  that  thy  Son  has  brought 
it  to  the  world  I  For  this  shall  thy  praises  be 
prolonged,  through  successive  ages,  till  the  last 


94  PRAYER  FOR  ONE 

trumpet  shall  summon  thy  children  to  the  wor- 
ship of  a  better  world.  Surely  the  praises  of 
eternity  will  be  too  few  for  compassion  like  thine ; 
and  the  glowing  offering  of  the  hosts  of  heaven, 
cold,  compared  with  the  fervour  of  thy  love. 
Great  God,  I  praise  thee  for  mercy!  I  praise 
thee  for  thy  Son!  Thou  hast  marked  out  the 
way  of  life.  Thou  hast  shown  the  path  of  peace. 
Thou  hast  assured  me,  that  by  thy  grace  he  tasted 
"death  for  every  man;"  that  "he  was  wounded 
for  our  transgressions,  and  bruised  for  our  in- 
iquities." 

Now,  O  my  God,  let  this  blessed  Redeemer  be 
my  way  to  thee.  Without  thee,  earth  is  but  a 
wilderness;  and  heaven,  without  thee,  would  be 
no  longer  heaven.  Thy  presence  can  cheer  the 
darkest  gloom ;  change  night  to  day ;  and  pain 
to  ease:  sorrow  to  delight;  poverty  to  riches ;  and 
death  to  life.  Thy  presence  can  make  the  mar- 
tyi-'s  dungeon  fairer  than  the  monarch's  palace; 
and  the  sad  stillness  of  the  chamber  of  death 
more  pleasing  than  the  voice  of  melody.  Thy 
love  can  make  the  dismal  grave  a  more  welcome 
habitation,  than  the  most  cheerful  dwelling 
where  harmony  and  affection  abide.  Thy  love 
is  a  treasure,  compared  with  which  the  wealth 
of  worlds  were  poverty ;  and,  O,  a  treasure, 
which  the  enmity  of  worlds  could  never  take 
away !  Thy  presence  darkens  all  terrestrial 
glory,  and  makes  earthly  beauty  charm  no  more. 
To  know  thee,  to  love  thee,  and  delight  in  thee, 
is  a  heaven  below,  a  heaven  even  in  the  midst 
of  conflicts  and  pain  ;  but,  O,  what  a  heaven  is 
theirs,  who  know  thee,  and  love  thee,  and  re- 
joice in  thee  in  heaven  itself!  Great  God,  may 
this  happiness  be  mine !     May  I,  a  sinful  child 


DESIROUS  OF   COMING  TO  CHRIST,  95 

of  sinful  man,  a  worm,  a  leaf,  a  shade,  aspire 
so  high  !  IMay  I  presume  to  call  thee,  the  eter- 
nal Jehovah,  mine  !  Ah  !  Lord,  I  may.  Years 
ago  I  might ;  but,  I  slighted  thee,  and  this  un- 
speakable blessedness.  O  !  well  might  my  heart 
sicken,  and  my  head  grow  dizzy,  with  shame 
and  horror,  to  think  of  having  slighted  thee  ! 
But,  now  no  more,  O  gracious  Lord  !  I  would 
act  the  prodigal's  part  no  more.  I  come  to  thee ; 
be  thou  my  blessedness,  or  none  will  ever  be 
mine.  I  come  to  thee ;  teach  all  my  heart  to 
bow  before  thee.  Let  love  draw  me  to  thy 
throne.  Let  faith  repose  on  thy  promises.  Let 
submission  make  thy  pleasure  mine.  Let  me  be 
a  wanderer  no  more.  Take  the  remainder  of 
my  j^outh,  and  let  my  life,  longer  or  shorter,  be 
all  thy  own. 

And  thou,  O  blessed  Saviour,  thou  art  revealed 
to  me  as  the  way  to  happiness,  to  heaven,  and 
God.  To  thee  I  come  for  life,  and  help,  and  ev- 
ery good.  Thy  precious  blood  was  shed  for  me. 
Thy  righteousness  is  sufficient  to  clothe  my  guil- 
ty soul.  I  am  nothing.  I  have  nothing  to  pre- 
sent to  thee,  but  what  is  unworthy  of  thy  notice. 
My  prayers,  my  praises,  my  holiest  actions,  need 
to  be  sprinkled  with  thy  atoning  blood.  But, 
didst  thou  not  come  to  save  the  lost !  and  I  am 
lost.  Art  not  thou  the  way,  the  truth,  and  the 
life  !  Be  thou  my  life.  Wash  me  in  thy  all- 
cleansing  blood.  Form  me  to  thine  image. 
Come,  possess  my  heart,  and  by  thy  Spirit 
dwell  in  me.  Guilty,  let  me  flee  to  thy  blood. 
Helpless,  let  me  lean  on  thy  arm ;  and  worthy 
of  destruction  only,  let  me  plead  thy  death  be- 
fore thy  judgment  throne.  Act  as  my  interces- 
sor above ;    and  make  me  thy  humble  friend 


96  PRAYER  CONTINUED. 

below.  I  would  sit  at  thy  feet,  and  learn  of 
thee ;  and,  while  I  trust  thy  death,  would  wear 
thy  image,  and  reflect,  in  some  humble  degree, 
thy  lovely  likeness.  Like  thee,  may  I  be  patient, 
humble,  meek.  Like  thee,  may  I  requite  evil 
with  kindness,  and  enmity  with  love.  To  thee 
may  my  life,  my  all  be  consecrated ;  and  may 
death  appear  but  a  kind  messenger,  sent  to 
fetch  me  to  thyself  From  this  hour  may  my 
youth,  my  health,  my  strength  be  thine.  May 
thy  love  animate  me;  thy  precepts  guide,  and 
thy  example  direct  me ;  thy  promises  cheer,  and 
thy  cautions  warn  me ;  thy  hand  support  me ; 
and,  at  the  last,  let  me  lean  my  dying  head  on 
thy  compassionate  arm,  and  find  death  swallow- 
ed up  in  victory.  —  Then  may  I  praise  thee  in 
those  brighter  courts,  for  that  grace  which  dis- 
covers to  me  the  way  of  life,  and  which  inclines 
me  now  to  yield  my  fair  but  fleeting  youth  to 
thee. 

But  what,  great  God,  am  I !  and  what  my  re- 
solutions and  desires  !  Alas !  I  am  weak  as  a 
reed,  and  my  resolutions  have  been  like  the 
morning  cloud  or  the  early  dew ;  yet,  let  me 
plead  with  thee,  for  thy  promised  Spirit.  Hast 
thou  not  promised,  that  thou  wilt  give  the  Holy 
Spirit  to  them  that  ask  thee?  Bestow  on  me  his 
sacred  influences.  With  them  water  and  refresh 
my  soul.  Let  his  holy  motions  incline  me  to 
every  gracious  act  and  desire.  My  soul  is  natu- 
rally like  a  dark  and  barren  desert;  but,  blessed 
with  his  influences,  the  darkness  will  disperse, 
and  the  wilderness  will  blossom  as  the  rose.  He 
must  teach  me  to  know  thee,  or  I  shall  never 
know  thee  aright.  He  must  teach  me  to  love 
ihee,  or  divine  love  will  be  for  ever  a  stranger 


CAUTIONS  AGAINST  FALSE  HOPES.  9/ 

to  my  breast.     He  must  discover  to  me  all  the 

excellencies  of  my  great  Redeemer ;  for,  without 
his  teaching,  all  other  would  be  in  vain.  Great 
and  blessed  God,  give  me  thy  Holy  Spirit,  and 
let  me  yield  my  heart  to  his  sweet  and  gentle 
guidance.  Let  him  lead  me  into  all  important 
truth.  Let  him  fashion  my  soul  anew  ;  and 
create  in  me  a  clean  heart ;  and  renew  a  right 
spirit  within  me.  By  him,  may  all  those  dispo- 
sitions that  shall  flourish  in  heaven,  be  formed 
within  my  soul  during  its  abode  on  earth. 

Father  of  all  mercies,  hear  and  grant  my  re- 
quests, for  the  sake  of  Jesus  Christ.     Amen. 


CHAPTER  V. 

CAUTIONS  AGAINST  SOME  DELCSIVE  SCPPORTS,  ON  TTHICH 
MANY  REST  THEIR  HOPES  TO  THEIR  ETERNAL  RUIN. 

§.1.  It  is  extremely  evident,  from  the  word 
of  God,  that  many  fatally  deceive  themselves, 
wilh  respect  to  their  spiritual  state.  Ihey 
say  to  themselves.  Peace,  peace ;  while  God  de- 
clares, there  is  no  peace  to  persons  in  their  con- 
dition. Like  a  captive,  who  dreams  of  liberty; 
but,  wakes  and  sees  the  horrid  walls  of  his  dun- 
geon around  him  :  so  they  indulge  the  hope  of 
heaven,  till  death  puts  an  end  to  the  deceitful 
dream ;  they  awake  in  eternity,  and  find  them- 
selves for  ever  undone.  Such  is  the  deceitful- 
ness  of  the  human  heart,  that  you  cannot  too  so- 
licitously guard  against  its  delusions,  and  those 
of  the  world,  that  would  blast  all  your  hopes  of 
happiness,  and  cover  j'ou  with  confusion  and 
horror,  when  expecting  joy  and  glory. 


98  CAUTIONS  FROM  THE  HISTORY 

§  2.  One  of  the  most  common  is,  the  belief, 
that  all  those  are  Christians  who  bear  the  Chris- 
tian name,  whose  lives  are  virtuous,  and  whose 
dejDortment  and  temper  are  lovely.  But,  alas ! 
all  this  is  found  in  thousands,  who  know  nothing 
of  real  religion;  and,  with  respect  to  eternity, 
all  these  fair  appearances  and  pleasing  recom- 
mendations will  avail  not,  if  there  be  not  true  pi- 
ety within.  Perhaps  this  can  scarcely  be  made 
more  evident,  than  by  referring  you  to  the  history 
of  one,  who  possessed  these  qualifications  in  no 
common  degree,  but  who  still  wanted  the  one 
thing  needful. 

In  Matt.  C.  19,  Mark,  C.  10,  or  Luke,  C.  11,  an 
instance  of  this  kind  is  recorded.  "When  the 
liOrd  had  gone  forth  into  the  way,  there  came 
one  (a  young  ruler)  running,  and  kneeled  to 
him,  and  asked  him.  Good  master,  what  shall  I 
do,  that  I  may  inherit  eternal  life  ?'^  He  was  so 
moral  a  person,  that  he  could  say,  with  respect  to 
many  of  the  commandments  of  God  (at  least  as 
far  as  his  outward  conduct  was  concerned),  "all 
these  have  I  observed  from  my  youth."  "  And 
Jesus  beholding  him,  loved  him ;  and  said,  One 
thing  thou  lackest;  go  thy  way,  sell  whatsoever 
thou  hast,  and  give  to  the  poor,  and  thou  shalt 
have  treasure  in  heaven;  and  come,  take  up  the 
cross  and  follow  me.  And  he  was  sad  at  that 
saying,  and  went  away  grieved.  He  was  very 
sorrowful,  for  he  was  very  rich."  There  cannot 
be  a  reasonable  doubt,  that  this  young  man  was  in  a 
state  of  sin  and  death,  notwithstanding  all  that 
seemed  so  promising  and  fair;  and,  perhaps,  this 
little  history  is  recorded,  to  show  how  far  a  person 
may  go  in  morality  and  a  concern  for  religion, 
and  yet  fall  short  of  heaven.     There  are  but  few. 


OF  THE  YOUNG  RULER,  MARK,  X.  99 

in  the  morning  of  life,  so  amiable,  and,  according 
to  worldly  views,  so  good  as  this  young  man; 
and,  yet,  with  much  that  was  lovely,  he  was  a  stran- 
ger to  real  piety.-  He  came  running  to  the  Lord, 
to  inquire  how  he  might  reach  a  better  world. 
Thus  he  manifested  earnestness  and  humility. 
He  was  not  ashamed  to  seek  instruction,  but  went 
to  Jesus  with  that  most  serious  question,  ^' Yvhat 
shall  I  do  that  I  may  inherit  eternal  life?"  His 
thoughtfulness  about  eternity  was  the  more  obser- 
vable, as  he  was  rich,  and  exposed  to  the  snares 
that  accompany  wealth.  Justly  has  it  been  ob- 
served, "that  his  concern  about  his  soul  was  not  a 
sick-bed  meditation,  for  he  was  in  health ;  nor  a 
melancholy  C|ualm  of  old  age,  for  he  was  young; 
nor  was  it  the  effect  of  his  being  discontented  and 
out  of  humour  with  the  world,  for  he  was  rich 
and  prosperous."  The  manner  often  recom- 
mends the  action;  and  there  was  much  that  was 
pleasing  in  his  manner.  Though  possessed  of 
wealth  and  honour,  and  coming  to  one  that  ap- 
peared poor  and  despised;  yet,  heusednohaugh. 
ty  freedom,  but  approached  his  instructor  with 
humility  and  respect.  Besides  all  this,  there  was 
something  more  substantial  in  his  character.  In- 
stead of  running  into  licentiousness  and  riot,  he 
had  attended  to  the  divine  commandments.  His 
life  had  been  moral;  he  had  been  a  dutiful  son; 
was  most  probably  affectionate  and  kind;  and 
doubtless  had  secured  the  esteem  of  his  friends; 
when  even  the  Lord  saw  so  much  that  was  pleas- 
ing in  him,  that,  beholding  him,  he  loved  him. 
But,  when  the  blessed  Saviour  put  him  to  the  test, 
whether  he  would  part  with  all  for  Christ  and  hea- 
ven, then  his  heart  failed  him  :  and  he  showed,  that 
with  so  much  that  was  lovelv  about  him,  he  still 


100      CAUTIONS  —  SPECULATIVE  KNOWXEDGE. 

was  in  reality  a  lover  of  this  world;  and  if  any 
man,  young  or  aged,  wicked  or  virtuous,  "if  any 
man  love  the  world,  the  love  of  the  Father  is  not 
in  him."  Yet,  even  the  manner  of  his  departure 
proved  the  interest  he  took  in  the  question  he 
had  proposed ;  he  went  away  grieved,  and  was 
very  soirowful.  In  s^hort,  he  was  such  a  one,  that 
we  may  readily  wi^:h  ail  young  persons  were  like 
him;  and,  yet,  he  was  such  a  one,  that  v>e  must 
wish  them  to  be  much  more  than  he  was.  In  the 
general,  you  may  learn  from  this  affecting  little 
history,  that  all  which  may  gain  the  esteem  of 
man,  will  be  of  no  avail,  as  to  the  salvation  of 
your  immortal  soul,  if  that  true  piety,  which  leads 
the  soul  to  count  all  things  loss  lor  Christ,  be 
wanting. 

Having  taken  a  brief  view  of  this  instructive 
case,  let  me  lead  your  thoughts  to  a  few  more 
particular  cautions. 

§  3.  Guard  against  their  dreadful  delusion, 
who  put  a  knowledge  of  some  sacred  truths  in  the 
place  of  religion  itself.  Many  such  self-deceiv- 
ers abound  in  the  world.  They  can  discourse 
on  the  hallowed  themes  of  the  gospel ;  but,  are 
strangers  to  its  influence  and  power.  To  hear 
them  talk,  you  might  think  them  Christians;  to 
see  them  act,  you  might  suppose  them  heathens. 
The  word  of  God  declares,  that  all  knowledge 
without  charity  (or  love),  is  vain,  and  that  its  pos- 
sessor is  nothing.  Fallen  ancl  infernal  spirits 
probably  know  much  more  of  some  sacred  sub- 
jects than  the  most  eminent  Christians  in  this 
life,  yet  they  are  devils  still. 

§  4.  Watch  against  resting  your  eternal  hopes 
on  outward  privileges.   You  live  in  what  is  term- 

1  John,  ii.  15.  1  Cor.  xiii.  2. 


DELUSIVE  HOPE  FROM  PRIVILEGES.  101 

ed  a  Christian  land,  but  this  does  not  make  jwu 
a  Christian ;  for  a  true  Christian  is  a  child  of  God 
"by  faith  in  Christ  Jesus."  The  young  ruler 
was  favoured  with  outward  privileges.  The  in- 
habitants of  Capernaum  had  enjoyed  them  ;  but 
sunk  the  deeper  in  hell  through  abusing  them. 
And  many,  who  ate  and  drank  in  the  presence  of 
Christ  himself,  and  in  whose  streets  he  taught, 
will  hear  him  say,  "  Depart  from  me,  all  ye  work- 
ers of  iniquity."  The  man  without  the  wedding 
garment  had  been  invited  to  the  gospel  feast; 
though  his  dreadful  doom  was  outer  darkness, 
where  there  is  weeping  and  gnashing  of  teeth. 
Perhaps  you,  my  young  friend,  have  enjoyed  all 
the  privileges  of  a  pious  education;  yet  think  not 
that  these  will  take  you  to  heaven.  You  must 
be  born  again.  Your  parents'  prayers  will  not 
fix  you  in  glory,  if  you  do  not  learn  to  pray. 
Your  parents'  faith  will  not  be  accounted  yours. 
Though  you  should  have  had  parents  as  pious, 
and  as  beloved  by  God,  as  Abraham  himself; 
yet  the  language  of  the  divine  word  is,  "Think 
not  to  say  within  yourselves,  we  have  Abraham 
to  our  father,  for  I  say  unto  you,  that  God  is 
able  of  these  stones  to  raise  up  children  unto  A- 
braham  ;"  and  not  merely  is  he  able,  but  soon- 
er would  he  do  so  than  violate  his  word,  by  ad- 
mitting an  unconverted  soul  to  heaven.  INIany 
parents  will  be  found  at  the  right-hand  of  Christ, 
whose  children  will  never  join  ihem  there;  and 
many  children  who  found  the  way  to  glory, 
though  their  parents  lost  it. 

§  5.  Trust  not,  my  young  friend,  your  eternal 
hopes  to  the  strictest  attention  to   the  outward 

Gal.  iii.  26.        Matt.  xi.  23,  2i.        Luke,  xiii.  27.         Matt.  xxii.  13. 
Matt.  iii.  9. 


i02  CAUTIONS.  — FORM  OF  RELIGION. 

forms  and  duties  of  religion.  Though  you  should 
say,  Ail  these  have  I  observed  from  my  youth ;  yet 
this  observance  is  not  a  foundation  on  which  to 
rest  for  eternity.  O  eternity,  eternity !  who  can 
be  anxious  enough  to  build  their  hopes  aright, 
when  building  for  eternity !  Perhaps,  from  your 
infant  days,  the  house  of  God  may  have  been 
your  resort.  Perhaps,  few  sabbaths  could  be  nam- 
ed, on  which  you  have  not  been  there.  Perhaps, 
in  your  chamber,  or  your  closet,  your  morning 
and  evening  devotions  have  been  regularly  paid. 
Possibly,  few  days  could  be  found,  in  which  from 
your  earliest  childhood  to  the  present  period,  you 
have  missed  this  stated  offering  to  heaven.  Per- 
haps, you  are  disposed  to  ask.  What  more  can  I 
want?  Alas!  you  may  have  done  all  this  and 
yet  want  every  thing  that  most  concerns  you. 
You  may  want  a  new  heart,  and  an  interest  in 
Jesus  Christ.  The  Christian  cannot  live  with- 
out prayer;  but  some  attention  to  its  outward 
forms  does  not  make  a  Christian.  God,  it  is  true, 
may  have  had  your  words,  but  who  has  had  your 
thoughts?  Who  has  had  your  heart?  Has  he 
had  these  too  ?  Have  not  these  often  been  em- 
ployed on  other  subjects,  when,  on  your  knees, 
you  professed  to  be  engaged  with  God?  While 
some  have  passed  months  and  years  without 
prayer,  you  may  have  constantly  attended  to  re- 
ligious duties;  but  how  little  earnestness,  how 
little  sincerity,  how  little  life,  has  there  been  in 
them  !  Consider  how  often,  in  private,  you  have 
knelt  down  and  rose  again,  without  a  serious 
thought  of  God;  how^  often,  in  public,  you  have 
listened  with  careless  indifference :  and  then 
think,  whether  you,  too,  may  not  be  said  to  have 
ispent  days   and    months  without  prayer ;   and 


FREEDOM  FROM  OPEN   VICE,  103 

whether  you  have  not  really  resembled  those, 
who  live  without  God  in  the  world.  But  if  your 
devotions  have  been  ever  so  fervent  and  sincere, 
still  they  are  not  the  foundation  for  a  sinner's 
hope.     Jesus  alone  is  that  foundation. 

§  6.  Trust  not  your  eternal  all  to  the  greatest 
freedom  from  open  vice,  and  to,  what  the  world 
might  term,  an  innocent  life.  You  have  already 
been  shown,  thp-t  there  is  no  life  so  innocent  as 
to  give  a  well-founded  hope  of  meeting  God  with 
comfort;  that  the  young,  as  well  as  the  aged, 
without  a  Saviour,  are  undone  for  ever ;  and  that 
what  the  world  esteems  almost  an  innocent  life, 
is,  in  the  sight  of  God,  a  life  of  base  ingratitude 
and  iniquity.  Perhaps,  the  open  vices  which 
ruin  many,  have  not  debased  your  character. 
Perhaps,  the  impious  profanations  of  the  swear- 
er never  escaped  your  lips.  Perhaps,  the  excess- 
es of  the  drunkard  or  the  libertine  have  not  pol- 
luted you.  Perhaps,  your  tongue  has  usually  ut- 
tered truth,  and  the  arts  of  the  liar  have  been  un- 
known to  you.  You  may  have  been  free  from 
these  and  other  open  vices;  yet  this  cannot  give 
you  the  faintest  well-founded  hope  of  acquittal 
at  the  great  day  of  judgment,  for  you  have  sins, 
and  it  is  impossible  to  express  the  evil  of  the 
smallest  sin.  Christ  represents  those  whose  sins 
are  least  and  fewest,  as  owing  to  God  ten  thou- 
sand talents ;  none  owe  less,  though  some  may 
owe  more.  Thus  the  most  virtuous  and  the  most 
abandoned,  in  the  sight  of  God,  approach  much 
nearer  to  each  other  in  guilt  than  you  probably 
imagine.  Trust  not,  then,  to  any  fancied  free- 
dom from  sin.  It  can  hardly  be  urged  on  you 
too  earnestly,  that  a  single  unpardoned  sin  is 
sufficient  to  damn  a  soul  to  all  eternitv.     Did 


104  CAUTIONS. MERE  MORALITY. 

not  one  sin  sink  angels  from  heaven  ?  Did  not 
one,  that  would  now  be  termed  a  little  sin,  turn 
Adam  out  of  Paradise  ? 

§  7.  Rest  not  your  everlasting  all  upon  the 
goodness  or  morality  of  your  life.  Morality  is  a 
lovely  thing;  it  will  adorn,  but  it  cannot  make 
a  Christian.  A  person  may  be  moral,  yet  a  stran- 
ger to  religion  ;  but  cannot  be  religious,  and  not 
be  moral.  Various  causes  may  produce  morality 
of  conduct,  while  the  heart  is  altogether  estrang- 
ed from  God.  The  young  ruler,  already  mention- 
ed, could  say,  respecting  an  outward  attention  to 
many  of  the  commandments  of  God,  All  these 
have  I  observed  from  my  youth  ;  yet  he  was  per- 
ishing in  sin.  In  his  case,  you  see  how  moral 
may  be  the  life,  how  lovely  the  deportment,  how 
earnest  after  religion,  the  desires  of  one,  who, 
after  all,  may  fall  short  of  religion,  and  thus  fall 
short  of  glory.  Has  your  morality  been  stric- 
ter than  his?  has  your  deportment  been  more 
amiable,  or  your  desire  after  eternal  life  more 
earnest  ?  If  not,  how  can  you  hope  for  heaven 
on  this  ground,  when  he  had  all  these,  and  yet 
was  in  the  way  to  hell  ? 

§  8.  If  you  should  not  rest  your  eternal  hopes 
on  any  of  these  things,  much  less  should  you 
on  any  other  amiable  qualifications. 

Many  young  persons  are  possessed  of  a  va- 
riety of  these,  who  are  destitute  of  all  true  pi- 
ety. Though  they  trifle  with  God  and  eternity, 
yet  affection  to  relatives  and  friends  seems  to 
dwell  in  their  hearts.  Cheerfulness  and  good- 
humour  beam  from  their  countenances,  and  the 
accomplishments  of  science  adorn  their  minds. 
All  they  seem  to  want  is  the  one  thing  needful ; 
but  wanting  that,  as  to  the  eternal  world,  they 


AMIABLE  QUALIFICATIONS.  105 

want  every  thing.  Only  the  recommendations  of 
that  humble  piety,  which  makes  Jesus  all  in  all, 
would  avail  them  there.  The  charms  of  religion 
only  will  bloom  beyond  the  grave ;  those  of  per- 
son, of  disposition,  of  deportment,  will  not  long 
keep  their  power  to  please.  Where  true  piety 
is  absent,  these  are  momentary  attractions,  that 
must  shortly  fade,  and  leave  no  trace  behind. 
Very  quickly  the  most  sensible  tongue  will  be  as 
silent  as  the  most  silly.  Loveliness  and  defor- 
mity will  be  alike  in  the  grave ;  and  those  of 
the  most  amiable  manners,  and  most  engaging 
deportment,  there  be  on  an  equality  with  the 
savage  and  the  brute.  The  charms  of  beau- 
ty, of  manners,  of  wit,  may  adorn  the  young  in 
their  hasty  journey  to  an  endless  world  ;  but  re- 
ligion only  will  prepare  them  for  a  heavenly  home. 
Those  may  glitter  on  the  casket ;  but  only  that 
will  beautify  the  jewel.  If  then,  my  young  friend, 
you  would  know  your  real  state,  examine  not 
from  what  pollutions  you  may  have  been  kept 
free  ;  not  what  moral  duties  you  have  practised ; 
not  what  religious  ordinances  you  may  have  re- 
garded ;  or  with  what  attractions  you  may  be 
adorned  :  but  inquire,  are  you  acquainted  with 
the  sinfulness  of  your  own  heart  ?  Have  you 
ever  experienced  repentance  towards  God  ? 
Have  you  ever  committed  your  helpless  soul  to 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ?  and  sought  your  hap- 
piness and  eternal  good  in  him  ?  If  you  are  a 
stranger  to  all  this,  you  are  a  stranger  to  religion. 
§  9.  I  may  not  improperly  add,  that  if  you 
would  guard  against  deception  on  this  most  mo- 
mentous of  all  subjects,  you  should  endeavour 
to  fix  on  your  mind  an  abiding  impression  of 
the  absolute  necessity  of  real  conversion.     Con- 


106  MEDITATIONS  ON  THE 

sider,  that  without  this  you  cannot  be  saved. 
The  words  of  Christ  are,  "Verily,  verily,  I  say 
unto  thee,  except  a  man  be  born  of  water  and 
the  Spirit,  he  cannot  enter  into  the  kingdom  of 
God:"  (John,  iii.  5.)  He  does  not  say,  except 
a  man  be  virtuous  in  his  habits,  or  moral  in  his 
life,  or  except  he  attend  the  outward  ordinan- 
ces  of  religion,  he  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of 
God  ;  for  all  this  he  may  mind,  and  never  reach 
heaven :  but,  "  Except  a  man  be  born  of  the 
Spirit,  he  cannot  enter  into  the  kingdom  of 
God."  He  represents  that  divine  change  which 
passes  on  the  hearts  of  all  those  that  come  to 
God  by  him,  as  essential  to  the  happiness  of 
your  soul.  By  his  atoning  death,  he  removed 
the  obstacles  to  your  happiness  that  lay  on  God's 
part ;  and,  by  conversion,  would  remove  those 
which  spring  from  yourself.  Be  assured,  on 
God's  authority,  there  is  no  new-discovered  way 
to  heaven.  The  path  is  marked  out.  Repent, 
and  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come.  Believe,  and 
yield  thyself  to  Christ. 

§    10.    A    MEDITATION    ON    THE    SUBJECT  OF    THIS    CHAP- 
TER, CONCLUDING  WITH  A   PRAYER. 

And  is  it  indeed  true,  O  my  soul,  that  the  way 
of  life  is  thus  narrow  !  And  can  it  be,  that  with 
so  much  to  adorn  the  outward  character,  the  heart 
may  still  remain  in  the  gall  of  bitterness,  and  in 
the  bonds  of  iniquity  !  Awakening  truth  !  let  it 
awaken  thee.  It  is  thy  Judge  that  says.  Wide  is 
the  gate  and  broad  is  the  way  that  leadeth  to  de- 
struction, and  many  there  be  which  go  in  thereat. 
It  is  he  that  tells  thee,  that  many  are  called,  but 
few  chosen.  Wilt  thou  trifle  with  his  word  I  Wilt 


WANT  OF  REAL  PIETY.  107 

thou  deceive  thyself,  and  hope  against  hope, 
when  vast  eternity  shall  be  the  measure  of  thy 
sufferings  or  joys,  and  when  the  smile  or  the 
frown  of  thy  God  awaits  thee!  Wert  thou  now 
going  into  his  presence,  w  here  would  the  next  hour 
find  thee?  O  my  soul,  thou  must  appear  before 
that  Judge,  whose  eyes  are  as  a  flame  of  fire; 
"who  knows  all  thy  secret  sins,  and  from  whom 
the  minutest  circumstance  cannot  be  concealed: 
and  what  plea  can  I  present  to  gain  his  pity  ? 
Shall  I  tell  him  that  some  knowledge  of  himself 
has  been  mine ;  that,  unlike  the  perishing  hea- 
then, I  called  him  Lord  ?  but,  has  not  he  said, 
"Not  every  one  that  saith  unto  me,  Lord,  Lord, 
shall  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven."  Would 
not  this  plea  for  mercy  aggravate  my  guilt,  and 
cause  even  the  heathen  to  rise  in  the  judgment 
against  me  to  condemn  me  !  They  knew  him  not, 
and  could  not  love  him ;  but  I  heard  of  him, 
and  tvould  not  love  him.  Or  should  I  plead  the 
privileges  I  have  enjoyed  ?  Should  I  tell  him  of 
parents,  now  in  heaven,  whose  prayers  ascended 
to  his  throne  for  me  ?  but,  alas !  my  abused  privi- 
leges double  all  my  guilt.  Should  I  plead  with 
him  that  my  life  has  been  fair,  my  deportment 
lovely,  my  temper  kind,  my  conduct  just?  but 
can  all  this  extenuate  my  rebellion  against  him, 
and  my  forgetfulness  of  God  ?  I  know  how  vain, 
how  very  vain,  it  would  be  for  a  criminal  ar- 
raigned for  murder  and  treason,  to  plead  in  his 
defence,  that  though  certainly  guilty  of  these 
crimes ;  yet  that  he  had  never  stolen  a  flower  from 
his  neighbour's  garden,  or  an  apple  from  his  or- 
chard :  nor  will  it  more  avail  me,  when  charged 
with  ingratitude  to  mvbest  benefactor,  with  rebel- 


108  PRAYER  FOR  TRUE  PIETY. 

lion  against  my  God,  to  plead,  in  excuse  for  those 
vilest  of  sins,  my  kindness  to  my  fellow-worms. 

How  solemn  is  the  warning  given  me,  from 
his  sad  condition,  whose  history  I  have  been  con- 
sidering !  How  lovely  was  his  deportment !  how 
moral  his  conduct !  how  pleasing  his  early  de- 
sire to  find  the  way  to  life  eternal !  yet  I  have 
seen  that  the  one  thing  he  still  wanted.  And  hast 
thou,  my  soul,  that  one  thing  ?  hast  thou  even  as 
much  to  plead  as  he  ?  Can  I  say  with  him,  All 
these  have  T  kept  from  my  youth  ?  Have  I,  in 
a  humbler  sphere,  as  seriously  inquired  the  way 
to  life  and  peace,  as  he  did,  in  the  midst  oi"  the 
ensnarements  of  riches  and  power  ?  Far  as  he 
went,  he  did  not  go  so  far  as  to  become  a  Chris- 
tian altogether;  and  what  am  I,  whose  concern 
for  religion  has  been  so  much  less  fervent,  whose 
outward  conduct  so  much  less  conformed  to  the 
will  of  God  ?  What  then  wilt  thou  do,  O  my 
soul  ?  canst  thou  bear  to  be  banished  from  the 
realms  of  joy  and  love,  and  to  hear  thy  now  com- 
passionate Saviour  bid  thee  depart  for  ever  ? 

O  my  God,  never  let  me  hear  those  awful 
words.  Here  I  bow  before  thee,  and  have  not 
one  plea  for  mercy,  drawn  from  any  thing  in  my- 
self, which  -would  deserve  thy  notice.  But  strip- 
ped of  every  other,  let  this  be  my  plea,  that  Je- 
sus died  for  me  a  sinner.  Thou  hast  taught  me 
what  to  do  ;  hast  directed  me  to  apply  to  him 
for  life  and  peace.  In  him,  thou  hast  laid  a 
foundation  on  which  I  may  build  for  eternity. 
There  let  me  rest  my  all. 

Wean  me  altogether  from  every  other  depen- 
dance.  Search  me  and  try  me.  If  I  deceive  my 
own  soul,  discover  to  me  the  delusion,  and  save 
me  from  reposing  my  eternal  hopes  on  any  thing. 


WORTH  OF  THE  SOUL.  109 

except  on  the  crucified  Redeemer.  Many,  O 
Lord,  are  the  devious  paths  of  error;  while  strait 
13  the  way  of  life,  yet,  though  strait,  it  leads  to 
heaven.  In  that  secure  and  peaceful  path,  O 
God,  may  T  walk.  May  I  be  found  in  Christ. 
May  I  abide  in  him ;  and  by  this  sacred  connex- 
ion with  him,  be  blessed  in  this  life  and  for  ever. 
And  thou,  blessed  Jesus,  be  thou  my  hope  and 
peace,  and  may  I  find  thee  my  Almighty  Sa- 
viour     Amen. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE  WORTH  OF  THE  SOUL  A  REASON  FOR    EARLY 
PIETY. 

§  1.  The  chief  design  of  the  preceding  chap- 
ters, has  been  to  make  you  sensible  of  your 
need  of  spiritual  blessings ;  and  to  give  you  a 
brief  view  of  the  nature  of  religion.  Consider 
now  more  fully  some  of  those  reasons,  which 
should  induce  you  to  embrace  religion  without 
delay.  And  may  God  enable  me  to  set  them 
before  you  with  that  affectionate  earnestness  and 
plainness,  which  become  a  dying  creature,  when 
addressing  another  who  must  soon  be  an  inhabi- 
tant of  heaven  or  hell ! 

One  most  weighty  motive,  to  induce  you  to 
give  your  youth  to  God,  is,  that  you  possess  an 
immortal  soul.  The  body  is  the  inferior  part 
of  your  nature.  Pass  away  a  few  short  years, 
and  it  must  mingle  with  the  clods  of  the  valley. 
By  the  body  you  are  allied  to  worms  and  dust; 
by  the  soul,  to  angels  and  to  God. 

It  is  almost  impossible  to  use  words  strong 
enough  to  express  the  worth  of  the  soul.  Such 
4 


1  10        WORTH  OP  THE  SOUL,  AS  IRIMORTAL. 

is  its  value  that  a  glorious  end  were  answered,  if 
the  earlli^nd  skies  were  maintained  in  being  for 
ten  thousand  ages,  merely  to  ripen  one  soul  for 
immortality  and  heav^en ;  and  the  labour  of  my- 
riads of  men  and  angels,  through  ten  thousand 
thousand  years,  would  be  well  employed,  in  di- 
recting one  lost  soul  to  a  Redeemer.  One  of 
our  poets,  when  glanciug  at  the  starry  firmament, 
and  comparing  its  glories  with  the  soul,  remarks 
with  not  more  fervour  than  truth  — 

"Survey  that  midnight  glory  !     Worlds  on  worlds  ! 

Amazing  pomp  !     Redouble  that  amaze  ! 

Ten  thousand  add ;  add  tAvice  ten  thousands  more. 

Then  weigh  the  whole;    one  soul  outweighs  them  all; 

And  calls  the  astonishing  magnificence 

Of  unintelligent  creation  poor.^^ 

Another  poet,  with  equal  truth  and  beauty, 
says, 

"The  sun  is  but  a  spark  of  fire, 
A  transient  meteor  in  the  sky; 
The  soul  immortal  as  its  Sire, 

Shall  never  die," 

§  2.  Your  soul  is  immortal.  It  derived  its 
being  from  God.  If  religion  be  your  choice,  it 
will  shine  brighter  than  the  stars  of  the  firma- 
ment, when  all  those  stars  are  gone  out  in  eter- 
nal night. 

A  few  years  will  finish  all  your  delights^  and 
hopes,  and  fears,  below ;  then  will  your  soul  be 
fixed  where  it  must  live  for  ever.  While  you, 
my  young  friend,  read  these  lines,  the  souls  of 
millions  are  encountering  all  the  sorrows,  or  are 
gladdened  with  all  the  joys  of  an  endless  world. 
For  ages  have  the  bodies  of  many  of  them  been 
turned  to  dust ;  their  very  tombstones  are  mould- 
f  red  away ;  but  they  all  live  in  eternity,  though 


ITS  VALUE  PROVED  BY  MARTYRS.      1  1 1 

forgotten  here ;  they  are  hidden  from  your  sij::ht, 
but  are  more  alive  to  joy  or  sorrow,  than  they 
ever  were  upon  earth.  Soon  will  the  time  ar- 
)-ive,  when  you  must  meet  this  solemn  change 
of  bei.  g;  when  you  must  converse  with  man 
no  more,  but  must  become  a  companion  of 
angels  or  of  devils.  And,  O,  what  is  the  worth 
of  a  soul !  that  may,  through  endless  ages,  shine 
in  heaven,  glorious  as  an  angel  of  light ;  or 
which,  covered  with  darkness,  misery,  and  de- 
spair, must  become  a  devil,  in  that  lake  of  fire, 
where  the  fire  never  shall  be  cjuenched.  O  !  in 
pity  to  your  own  precious  and  immortal  soul, 
embrace,  without  delay,  the  gospel  of  your  God. 
§  3.  The  worth  of  the  soul  is  a  subject,  on 
which  men  of  all  descriptions  have  agreed ;  on 
which,  the  best  and  v.isest  have  had  their  testi- 
mony confirmed,  by  the  most  careless  and  the 
worst.  INIartyrs  have  shown  their  sense  of  its 
value,  by  all  their  sufferings  to  secure  its  salva^ 
tion.  For  this,  thousands,  as  sensible  as  you  of 
the  comforts  of  life,  have  willingly  forsaken  "kin- 
dred, country,  friends,  and  ease ;"  have  been  tor- 
tured on  racks,  or  devoured  by  beasts  of  prey; 
been  burned  alive,  or  suffered  torments  far  more 
intolerable  than  burning !  "And  others  had  trial 
of  cruel  mockings  and  scourgings,  yea,  moreo- 
ver, of  bonds  and  imprisonment;  they  were  sto- 
ned ;  were  sawn  asunder ;  were  tempted  ;  weie 
slain  with  the  sword ;  they  wandered  about  in 
sheep-skins  and  goat-skins ;  being  destitute,  af- 
flicted, tormented ;  of  whom  the  world  was  not 
worthy  ;  they  wandered  in  deserts  and  in  moun- 
tains, and  in  dens,  and  caves  of  the  earth." 
(Iltb.  xi.  37.)  Impressed  with  the  worth  of  the 
soul,  many,  with  these  dark  scenes  before  them, 


112  TESTIMONIES  OF  THE  DYING 

have  bid  farewell  to  all  the  allurements  of  the 
world,  to  meet  the  roughest  storms  of  persecu- 
tion, face  its  dangers  and  sink  into  the  grave 
beneath  them.  Yet  while  some  were  burning, 
others  were  coming  forward  to  take  their  places 
in  the  true  spirit  of  the  English  martyr,  who,  at 
the  place  of  execution,  kissed  the  stake  and  ex- 
claimed, "Welcome  the  cross  of  Christ,  welcome 
everlasting  life."  Does  one  of  all  these  martyr- 
ed myriads  repent?  Does  one  now  imagine 
that  he  suffered  more  than  salvation  was  worth  ? 
Ah  no,  if  they  could  now  address  you,  they 
might  tell  you,  that  sooner  than  lose  the  soul, 
they  would  burn  in  flames  a  thousand  times  hot- 
ter ;  suffer  torments  a  thousand  times  more  pro- 
tracted ;  prisons  a  thousand  times  more  dismal ; 
and  meet  death,  in  forms,  if  possible,  a  thousand 
times  more  terrible.  And  was  it  worth  their 
while,  to  endure  so  much  to  reach  heaven ;  and 
is  it  not  worth  yours,  in  earnestness,  to  seek  ad- 
mittance there  ? 

§  4.  If,  after  the  testimony  of  such  distin- 
guished witnesses,  you  should  hearken  to  theirs, 
who  have  trodden  a  less  brilliant  and  less  suffer- 
ing path  to  heaven,  their  testimony  would  be  the 
same.  Say  to  the  dying  Christian,  "  You  are  in 
those  circumstances,  which  enable  you  to  view 
this  world  and  the  next  aright ;  what  should  I 
mind  ?"  He,  in  purport,  would  reply,  "  Take 
care  of  your  soul."  A  dying  saint  said,  to  some 
friends  that  visited  him,  "  You  come  hither  to 
learn  to  die.  I  can  assure  you  that  your  whole 
life,  be  it  ever  so  long,  is  little  enough  to  pre- 
pare for  death.  Have  a  care  of  this  vain  deceit- 
ful world,  and  the  lusts  of  the  flesh.  Be  sure 
you  choose  God  for  your  portion ;   heaven  for 


TO  THE  WORTH  OF  THE  SOUL.       1  ]  3 

your  home  ;  God's  glory  for  your  end,  his  word 
for  your  rule ;  and  then  you  need  never  fear,  but 
we  shall  meet  with  comfort/'*  Or  ask  the  dying 
profligate,  he  who  treated  all  religion  as  a  dream, 
and  the  souljas  a  trifle,  say  to  him,  "  What  shall 
I  chiefly  mind  ?"  and  would  he  not  reply,  "  Take 
care  of  your  soul,  and  avoid  my  folly  ;  for  I  have 
ruined  mine.''  One  unhappy  man,  who  had  liv- 
ed in  wealth  and  splendour,  but  had  trifled  with 
eternal  things,  a  short  time  before  death,  said, 
"I  had  provided  in  the  course  of  my  life,  for  ev- 
ery thing  except  death,  and  now,  alas !  I  am  to 
die,  although  entirely  unprepared. "-f-  Another, 
who  was  eminent  for  his  wisdom  and  learning, 
but  who  had  been  negligent  of  the  great  salva- 
tion, said,  "It  is  lamentable,  that  men  consider 
not  for  what  they  are  born  into  the  world,  till 
they  are  ready  to  go  out  of  it." t  Another,  who 
was  distinguished  for  his  talents,  his  ambition, 
and  his  success  in  gaining  worldly  honours,  not 
long  before  his  death,  cried  out,  "O  my  poor 
soul,  what  will  become  of  thee  !  whither  wilt  thou 
go  !"§ 

§  5.  Have  you,  my  young  friend,  never  been 
in  that  situation,  in  which  the  world  appeared  a 
dream,  a  cheat,  a  nothing  ?  Have  you  never 
lain  upon  the  bed  of  sickness,  and  passed  weari- 
some days  and  sleepless  nights  of  languor  or  of 
pain  ?  Have  you  never  been  in  such  circum- 
stances as  to  expect  that  a  few  days  or  weeks  would 
end  your  mortal  course,  fix  your  body  in  the 
grave,  and  your  soul  in  eternity  ?  and  have  you 
forgot  what  were  then  your  views  and  feelings  ? 
Did  the  world  appear  as  enchanting  to  you  then, 

«  Richard  Baxter, 
t  Caosar  Borg^ia,  i  Sir  T.  Smith.  ?  Cardinal  Mazarine. 


1 14  THE  WORTH  OF  THE  SOUL. 

as  it  does  now  ?  Did  the  soul  and  its  salvation 
then  seem  a  thing  of  little  moment  ?  Rather  did 
not  tlie  world  seem  vanity  of  vanities  ?  Were  you 
now  on  a  bed  of  sickness,  or  languishing  and 
dying,  would  not  these  be  your  views  ?  And 
must  not  you,  ere  long,  be  in  such  a  situation? 
And  will  you  not  then  confess,  that  the  only 
thing  that  deserves  your  care  is  the  immortal 
soul  ?  O,  why  neglect  it,  when  you  might  secure 
its  salvation  !  Why  put  off  entering  the  way  of 
Kfe,  till  that  way  is  shut  for  ever  ?  By  the  tes- 
timonies of  others  to  the  worth  of  the  soul,  and 
by  the  convictions  of  your  own  mind,  I  beseech 
you  to  secure  its  salvation,  by  applying,  with- 
out delay,  to  the  Son  of  God  for  life. 

§  6.  Reflect  on  the  interest  taken  in  the  wel- 
fare of  your  soul  by  those  who  are  best  acquaint- 
ed with  its  worth.  If  you,  my  young  friend, 
were  to  behold  a  person  in  danger  of  death, 
and  to  witness  a  whole  kingdom  filled  with  anx- 
iety on  his  account ;  to  see  the  monarch  stoop- 
ing to  the  meanest  offices  of  kindness ;  all  faces 
filled  with  anxiety,  all  hearts  with  concern,  for 
this  individual :  you  might  justly  believe  him  to 
be  one  held  in  the  highest  estimation.  Consider 
then,  I  beseech  you,  the  interest  which  all  the 
inhabitants  of  heaven  take  in  the  welfare  of  the 
soul.  Angels,  those  blessed  spirits,  to  whom 
all  the  glory  of  this  world  would  seem  a  con- 
temptible dream,  are  not  uninterested  where  the 
soul  is  concerned.  "  There  is  joy  in  the  presence 
of  the  angels  of  God  over  one  sinner  that  repent- 
eth."  And  as  they  rejoice  at  the  conversion  of 
a  soul ;  so  they  watch,  doubtless,  with  pleasure 
over  the  steps  of  their  future  companions  above, 

Luke,  XV.  10. 


TESTIFIED  BY  ANGELS  AND  BY  GOD.    115 

Sent  by  their  Creator  on  errands  of  kindness, 
they  descend  to  earth,  and  attend  the  soul  in  it8 
progress  towards  heaven ;  and  when  its  pilgri- 
mage is  concluded,  become  its  convoy  to  the 
abodes  of  blessedness.  O  my  young  friend,  shall 
these  happy  spirits  take  so  much  interest  in  the 
welfare  of  your  soul ;  and  will  you  yourself  be 
careless  ?  Shall  they  be  willing  to  minister  to 
you  as  unseen  messengers  of  love ;  and  will  you 
neglect  that  soul  over  which  they  would  fain  re- 
joice, whose  mortal  course  they  would  cheer- 
fully attend,  and  which  they  would  gladly  con- 
duct to  the  bosom  of  Christ  ? 

§  7.  But  it  is  not  merely  the  inferior  though 
glorious  inhabitants  of  heaven,  whose  conduct 
testifies  the  worth  of  the  soul.  God,  the  great 
and  blessed  God,  has  so  loved  the  world,  as  to 
give  his  only-begotten  Son  to  be  a  ransom  for 
the  ruined  souls  of  men;  and  Jesus  Christ,  the 
brightness  of  his  Father's  glory,  has  suffered  and 
died  to  redeem  immortal  souls  from  death.  Raise 
your  eyes,  and  view  the  creation  of  God.  Be- 
hold the  earth,  the  moon,  the  sun,  the  stars,  and 
all  the  wonders  of  the  spangled  sky ;  and  then 
consider,  that  for  that  soul  which  you  have  pro- 
bably neglected,  yet  for  that  neglected  soul,  the 
Creator  of  this  splendid  train  became  a  man  of 
sorrov/s  and  acquainted  with  grief.  O  learn,  my 
young  friend,  the  worth  of  your  immortal  spirit, 
from  what  passed  on  Calvary  in  its  behalf  I 
See  the  God  of  glorj'-  resigning  his  best  beloved 
to  unbridled  fury,  stripes,  and  death  ;  to  the 
torturing  cross,  the  bloody  spear,  and  the  dismal 
grave  !  See  the  patient  Son  of  God,  patient 
amidst  enemies  foaming  with  rage  and  breath- 

See  Ps.  xci.  11.  — Ileb.  i.  14—  Luke,  xvi.  23. 


116  THE  WORTH  OF  THE  SOUL  SHEWN 

ing  out  cruelty  ;  see  him  there  accomplishing 
what  none  but  he  could  perform,  and  bearing  a 
load  of  human  guilt  and  sorrow,  more  vast  and 
dreadful  than  any  tongue  can  tell.  See  this,  and 
learn  the  value  of  your  soul  more  strongly  than 
a  whole  creation  could  represent  it  to  you.  The 
creation  is  worthless,  compared  with  its  glori- 
ous Maker ;  but  its  Maker  bled  for  us.  O,  that 
I  could,  with  the  earnestness  of  a  dying  man, 
urge  upon  you  the  worth  of  a  soul  ransomed 
by  such  a  ])rice !  A  soul  lost  is  more  than  a 
world  destroyed.  Compared  with  this  loss,  the 
destruction  of  this  vast  world  will  be  a  trifle. 
Never  did  its  Creator  assume  human  nature, 
and  die  for  its  preservation  from  the  final 
flames;  but  O,  a  spirit,  an  immortal  spirit,  a 
spirit  for  which  Jesus  died,  if  this  is  lost,  what 
ruin,  what  misery  is  this  !  You  gaze  upon  a 
dying  world,  and,  engaged  with  its  trifles,  per- 
haps forget  the  immortal  visitant  within,  forget 
that  you  have  a  soul  which  shall  outlive  the 
grasp  of  death,  the  bounds  of  time  ;  but,  O,  for- 
get its  worth  no  more  !  Well  might  you  won- 
der that  such  a  treasure  should  inhabit  a  little 
piece  of  breathing  clay.  And  can  it  be  to  you 
a  matter  of  little  moment,  whether  your  immor- 
tal soul  be  saved  or  lost  ?  Can  you  treat  this 
as  a  thing  of  small  importance,  when  the  great 
God  has  stooped  so  low,  and  resigned  so  much, 
to  open  for  you  a  way  to  happiness.  He  has 
withheld  nothing  that  was  needed  to  save  you. 
No  higher,  nobler  gift  did  heaven  itself  contain, 
than  what  he  gave.  Can  you,  will  you,  any 
longer  treat  that  salvation  with  indifference, 
which  the  Son  of  God  freely  ofi'ers  you,  and 
which  he  purchased  for  you  at  the  expense  of 


FROM   CHRIST'S   SLTFERINGS,  117 

his  throne,  his  happiness,  and  his  life  ?  O  ! 
danger,  very,  very,  very  dreadfid,  (iom  which 
such  a  Saviour  came  to  relieve  us  !  O  blessed, 
blessed  salvation,  which  was  obtained  at  so  dear 
a  rate  !  O  precious,  invaluably  precious  souls, 
for  which  such  a  price  was  paid  !  Such  a  soul 
is  yours.  You  have  one,  for  which  the  Son  of 
God  in  torture  died,  and  heaven  lost  its  brio^ht 
inhabitant.  Such  is  the  value  which  God  has 
set  upon  your  soul ;  but,  my  young  friend,  how 
have  you  valued  it  ?  Perhaps,  if  poor,  you  have 
laboured  earnestly  for  to-morrow's  bread,  but 
never  spent  an  hoar's  care  on  your  immortal 
spirit;  or,  perhaps,  if  in  easier  circumstances, 
you  have  followed  dress,  gaietj^  and  pleasure, 
careless  what  became  of  your  soul  in  that 
dreadful  eternity,  to  which  it  hastes.  O,  act  this 
wretched  part  no  longer  ;  but  now  make  early 
piety  your  choice !  Let  not  the  blessed  God  ha 
so  anxious  for  your  everlasting  welfare,  and  you 
as  careless  of  it. 

§  8.  As  thus,  in  the  most  affecting  manner, 
the  Father  and  the  Son  have  declared  the  value 
of  the  soul ;  so  also,  my  young  friend,  learn  the 
same,  from  all  which  the  blessed  Spirit  does  for 
the  salvation  of  sinful  men.  He  strives  with 
them.  It  is  by  his  light  that  they  discern  the 
Father  and  the  Son.  Has  not  he  exerted  his 
power  in  your  heart  ?  Have  not  you  felt  those 
convictions  of  sin  and  folly,  those  devout  impres- 
sions, and  salutary  desires,  which  really  came 
from  above  ?  Has  not  the  still  small  voice  with- 
in, as  it  were,  said  to  you,  "Turn  to  God  ;  for. 
sake  the  world  ;  your  ways  lead  to  misery,  the^' 
will  be  bitterness  in  the  end  ;  trust  in  Christ  and 
be  hapjjy."  Have  not  you  banished  the  warning. 


118  FROM  THE  HOLY  SPIRIT'S   CARE, 

and  quenched  the  holy  thoughts  and  desires, 
thus  given  you  from  above  ?  Yet  has  he  left 
you  ?  Has  not  your  conscience  been  alarmed  ; 
and  these  sacred  impressions  repeated  again  and 
again  ?  Why  does  the  blessed  Spirit  thus  strive 
with  you  ?  Why  did  he  not  take  your  first  re- 
pulse, and  leave  you  for  ever  ?  Why  has  he  fol- 
lowed you  with  these  salutary  warnings  ?  You 
did  not  seek  them.  Why  has  he  made  your 
heart  at  times  almost  begin  to  melt  ?  Why  let 
you  feel  the  sting  of  sin  ?  Why  alarmed  you  at 
your  situation  ?  Why  showed  you  your  dan- 
ger ?  Why  induced  you  at  times,  if  you  would 
go  no  further,  yet  to  wish  you  were  a  Christian  ? 
To  wish  that  you  were  like  some  that  you  per- 
haps know  ?  Why  has  the  blessed  Spirit  be- 
stowed all  this  care  on  a  poor,  thoughtless,  un- 
grateful creature,  whose  heart  has  been  shut 
against  his  gentle  influence  ?  Why,  my  young 
friend,  but  because  he  wishes  you  well  for  ever  ? 
God  would  not  have  you  perish.  Shall  angels, 
shall  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  all,  all  be 
filled  with  concern  for  the  welfare  of  your  soul, 
and  will  you  slight  that  soul  yourself? 

§  9.  If,  to  all  this  evidence  of  the  worth  of  your 
soul,  I  add  more,  it  shall  be,  that  even  the  ma- 
lice of  devils  may  teach  you  the  value  of  your 
soul.  You  are  taught,  in  the  word  of  God,  that 
Satan  walketh  about  as  a  roaring  lion,  seeking 
whom  he  may  devour.  You  are  assured  that 
he  comes  and  takes  away  the  seed  sown  in  the 
careless  heart ;  and  that  we  have  to  wrestle  with 
the  rulers  of  the  darkness  of  this  world.  The 
word  of  God  represents  his  power  as  great;  his 
influence  is  extensive;   his  devices  are   many. 

1  Peter,  v.  e.  Matt.  xiii.  ](.).  Eiil.cs.  vi.  12. 


FROM  SATAN'S  MALICE  1 19 

Some  he  tempts  to  presumption,  others  to  des- 
pair ;  and  in  a  thousand  different  ways  strives  to 
keep  the  sons  of  men  fast  in  his  helhsh  chains.-^ 
But  though  the  devil  is  a  fallen  and  infernal  spi- 
rit, you  have  no  reason  to  doubt  that  he  -was  once 
one  of  an  exalted  rank.  He  knows  what  heaven 
is,  for  be  has  lost  it ;  he  knows  what  immortali- 
ty iS;,  for  he  is  doomed  to  it;  and  his  artifices, 
his  assaults,  his  watchfulness,  his  activity,  in  the 
dreadful  work  of  destruction,  prove  how  highly 
he  values  the  immortal  soul.  It  is  a  prize  which 
he  thinks  worth  his  care  and  labour.  No  watch- 
fulness seems  to  him  too  much  for  the  accom- 
plishment of  its  ruin.  Though  you  may  be  in- 
active, he  is  activity  itself.  Though  you  may  be 
negligent  and  slothful,  in  seeking  the  salvation 
of  your  soul,  he  is  watchful  and  diligent  in  seek- 
ing its  destruction. 

A  PRAYER  IMPLORING  A  DEEPER  SENSE  OF  THE  VALUE  OF 
THE  SOUL,  WITH  A  DEVOUT  COMMITTAL  OF  IT  TO  THE  SA- 
VIOUR'S CARE. 

O  thou  Almighty  Father  of  Spirits,  by  thee 
this  curious  mortal  frame  of  mine  was  formed, 
and  from  thee  my  immortal  spirit  came.  Thou 
didst  create  man  to  bear  more  of  the  image  of 
thyself,  than  any  besides  of  these  thy  lower 
works.  Ihou  didst  breathe  into  him  the  breath 
of  life,  by  which  he  became  a  living  soul ;  while 
all  thy  other  creatures  here,  are  the  creatures  of 
a  day.  From  thee  have  I  received  a  soul,  that 
must  live  through  an  eternity,  as  lasting  as  thy 
own.  I  know,  O  Lord,  that  it  is  appointed  unto 
all  men  once  to  die ;  and  I,  ere  long,  must  sink 

*  The  young  reader  is  recotninendeJ  to  read  lirocLcs's  Precious 
Remedies  against  Saian's  Devices,  a  truly  excelitut  little  work. 


120  PRAYER  FOR  A  DEEPER 

beneath  the  stroke  of  death.  These  Imnds  will 
forget  to  labour.  These  eyes  will  need  the  cheer- 
ing light  of  day  no  more.  This  tonjj^ue  will  be 
silent.  This  heart  will  be  filled  with  fear  or  love 
no  longer.  Tiiese  limbs  will  become  cold  in 
cleath  ;  none  on  earth  will  be  concerned  with  me, 
nor  I  with  them  ;  but  the  worm  will  crawl  and 
feed  upon  this  flesh  of  mine,  or  corruption  con- 
sume it,  ''till  not  one  wretched  trace  remains 
resembling  me !"  But,  O  my  God !  that  soul 
which  thou  hast  made  the  tenant  of  this  dying 
frame,  must  defy  the  power  of  death  ;  must 
spring  forward  into  new  and  unknown  scenes; 
must  behold  the  glories  or  terrors  of  the  invisi- 
ble w^orld ;  while  eternity,  vast,  boundless,  joy- 
ful, or  dreadful  eternity,  becomes  the  only  limit 
of  my  suffering  or  happiness.  With  this  pros- 
pect before  me,  let  me  prize  my  soul  as  a  trea- 
sure, compared  with  which  all  the  treasures  of  a 
thousand  worlds  were  emptier  than  a  bauble  and 
lighter  than  vanity.  O,  let  me  feel  its  worth  as 
I  shall  do  on  the  bed  of  death  !  O,  let  me  know 
its  value  as  they  have  done  who  gladly  bore  pri- 
sons, and  flames,  and  martyrdom,  in  every 
dreadful  form,  that  they  might  but  keep  their 
immortal  spirits  safe  beneath  their  Redeemer's 
care ;  and  wdio  thought  all  their  sorrows  well 
repaid,  by  landing  on  the  peaceful  shore  of  hea- 
ven !  O,  let  me  feel  the  value  of  my  immortal 
soul,  as  they  have  done  who  trifled  with  theirs, 
till  their  day  of  grace  was  gone  ;  and  who  then, 
in  confusion,  agony,  and  horror,  bewailed  their 
dreadful  sin  !  Ijord,  may  I  learn  from  the  joy- 
ful or  sad  experience  of  others,  not  to  slight  thy 
love  !  Thou  liast  cared  for  my  eternal  welfare, 
and  thought  no  sacrifice  too  costly  when  the 


SENSE   OF   TH»    WORTH    OF   THE   SOUL.      121 

happiness  of  my  immortal  spirit  was  at  stake. 
Let  endless  praises  be  paid  thee  for  thy  conde- 
scending kindness,  praises  as  lasting  and  as 
fervent  as  thy  love.  Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul, 
who  redeemed  ihy  life  from  destruction.  And 
now,  O  Lord,  may  thy  Holy  Spirit,  whose  grace 
I  have  so  often  resisted,  whose  teachings  I  have 
so  often  slighted,  may  he  possess  this  soul  of 
mine,  and  make  it  a  temple  worthy  of  himself. 
Shed  abroad  thy  sanctifying  influences  upon 
me,  implant  every  grace  within  me,  and  train 
up  my  deathless  soul  for  that  holy  and  happy 
world,  where  I  shall  never  be  tainted  with  sin, 
or  feel  pain  or  sorrow  more. 

Blessed  Jesus,  thou  hast  died  to  set  my  spirit 
free  from  condemnation  to  eternal  death :  and 
take  this  precious  jewel,  and  keep  it  safe  beneath 
thy  tender  care.  I  cannot  guard  it  from  its  rave- 
nous foes.  They  seek  its  destruction  ;  but,  aL 
mighty  Saviour,  they  cannot  tear  the  soul  away 
that  is  lodged  within  thy  protecting  arms.  To 
thee  would  I  commit  mine.  It  is  the  purchase 
of  thy  blood !  and  thou  wilt  keep  what  I  com- 
mit unto  thee.  Guard  my  soul  from  every  foe, 
while  I  am  a  pilgrim  here ;  and,  in  my  depart- 
ing hour,  may  I  see  heaven  opened,  and  expire 
with  the  dying  prayer  of  thy  first  INIartyr  on  my 
lips,  "Lord  Jesus,  receive  my  spirit."     Atnen. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE  IMPORTANCE  Of  RELIGION  FURTHER  SHOWN,  BY 
KF.FERENCE  TO  THE  COUNSEL  OF  THE  MOST  HIGH, 
CONTAINED  IN  HIS  WORD 

\    \      On  all  subjects  in  which    eternity  is 


122  THE    BIBLE    A    GUIDE   TO   HEAVEN. 

concerned,  the  word  of  God  is  our  surest  guide. 
Do  not  you  profess  to  believe  that  word  ?  By  it 
your  views  should  be  regulated,  as  by  it  your 
conduct  will  be  judged.  A  distinguished  Chris- 
tian, who  is  gone  to  his  eternal  rest,  referring 
to  the  scriptures,  justly  says,  "I  have  thought  I 
am  a  creature  of  a  day,  passing  through  life  as 
an  arrow  through  the  air.  I  am  a  spirit  coane 
from  God,  and  returning  to  God  ;  just  hovering 
over  the  great  gulf,  till,  a  few  moments  hence, 
I  am  no  more  seen :  I  drop  into  an  unchange- 
able eternity.  I  want  to  know  one  thing,  the 
way  to  heaven ;  how  to  land  safe  on  that  hap- 
py shore.  God  himself  has  condescended  to 
teach  the  way.  For  this  very  end  he  came  from 
heaven.  He  hath  written  it  down  in  a  book. 
O,  give  me  that  book  !  At  any  price  give  me 
the  book  of  God  !  I  have  it ;  here  is  knowledge 
enough  for  me.  Let  me  be  homo  unius  libri, 
(the  man  of  one  book.)  Here  then  I  am,  far 
from  the  busy  ways  of  men  ;  I  sit  down  alone, 
only  God  is  here.  In  his  presence  I  open,  I 
read  his  book  ;  for  this  end,  to  find  the  way  to 
heaven."  What  this  pious  writer  felt  himself 
to  be  you,  my  young  friend,  are  now ;  a  crea- 
ture hastening  to  eternity,  as  fast  as  an  arrow 
darts  through  the  air,  or  as  a  shuttle  through 
the  loom  :  and  will  you  not  make  that  sacred 
book  your  guide  ?  It  teaches  you  that  religion 
is  true  wisdom,  and  all  else  folly.  That  this  is 
the  one  thing  needful,  the  good  part.  It  teaches 
you  to  seek  this,  whatever  you  lose  by  pursuing 
it;  to  embrace  it,  though  at  the  expense  of  all 
you  possess  ;  to  hold  it  fast,  though  that  or  life 
must  be  resigned.  It  teaches  you,  that  in  pos- 
sessing the  blessings   of  religion,  you   would 


REPRESENTS  RELIGION  AS  MOST  IMPORTANT.       123 

possess  every  good  ;  and  that  the  want  of  them 
is  worse  than  hunger,  poverty,  or  pain,  prisons, 
or  martyrdom.  That  if  you  enjoy  the  Saviour's 
love,  it  is  a  matter  of  very  little  importance 
what  you  suffer ;  for  here  will  be  found  enough 
to  make  amends  for  all :  and  that  if  you  have 
not  this,  it  signifies  little  what  you  possess  ;  for 
the  want  of  this  is  the  want  of  every  thing  that 
is  worth  the  thoughts  or  wishes  of  an  immortal 
soul. 

§  2.  The  judgment  of  the  blessed  God,  as  to 
the  importance  of  real  piety,  and  of  piety  in 
youth,  is  solemnly  given  in  his  word.  There  his 
beloved  Son  and  his  inspired  messengers  speak 
in  his  name  to  you  ;  and,  God  of  mercy  !  give 
my  youthful  readers  grace  to  listen  to  those  ad- 
monitions of  thine,  that  I  would  now  repeat  to 
them.  Behold  then,  my  young  friend,  "Be- 
hold the  fear  of  the  Lord,  that  is  wisdom  ;  and 
to  depart  from  evil  is  understanding.  The  fear 
of  the  Lord  is  the  beginning  of  wisdom  ;  a  good 
understanding  have  all  they  that  do  his  com- 
mandments. Seek  ye  the  Lord  while  he  may 
be  found.  Call  ye  upon  him  while  he  is  near. 
Let  the  wicked  forsake  his  way,  and  the  un- 
righteous man  his  thoughts.  "What  shall  it  pro- 
fit a  man,  if  he  gain  the  whole  world  and  lose 
his  own  soul.  One  thing  is  needful.  Seek  ye 
first  the  kingdom  of  God  and  his  righteousness. 
Enter  ye  in  at  the  strait  gate.  Strive  to  enter 
in  ;  because  strait  is  the  gate  and  narrow  is  the 
way  that  leadeth  unto  life,  and  few  there  be  that 
find  it.  Ye  must  be  bom  again.  Behold  the 
Lamb   of   God.     Believe   on    the  Lord    Jesus 

Job,  xxriii.  21.    Ps.  cxi.  10.    Is.lv.  6,  7.    Mark,  Tiii.36.   Luke,  x.  42. 

Matt.  vi.  33.  Matt.  vii.  13.  Luke,  xiii.  24.  Matt  Yii.  U. 

John,  iii.  7.  John,  i.  36.  Acts,  xvi.  31. 


124  SCRIPTURAL  REPRESENTATIONS 

Christ.  Fight  the  good  fight  of  faith.  Lay 
hold  on  eternal  life.  Be  diligent,  that  ye  may 
be  found  of  him  in  peace,  without  spot  and 
y)lameless.  Let  us  labour,  therefore,  to  enter 
into  rest.  Remember  now  thy  Creator  in  the 
days  of  thy  youth.  T  love  them  that  love  me ; 
and  they  that  seek  me  early  shall  find  me.  O, 
that  they  were  wise,  that  they  understood  this, 
that  they  would  consider  their  latter  end  !  Fear 
not  them  which  kill  the  body,  and  after  that 
have  no  more  that  they  can  do  :  but  I  will 
forewarn  you  whom  ye  shall  fear;  fear  him, 
who,  after  he  hath  killed,  hath  power  to  cast 
into  hell ;  yea,  I  say  unto  you,  fear  him.  Lay 
not  up  for  yourselves  treasures  upon  earth ;  but 
lay  up  for  yourselves  treasures  in  heaven,  where 
neither  moth  nor  rust  doth  corrupt,  and  where 
thieves  do  not  break  through  nor  steal." 

§  3.  Are  not  these  important  admonitions  the 
admonitions  of  your  God  ?  Religion  is  the 
blessing  which  they  teach  you  to  choose;  a 
blessing  which  makes  the  poorest  rich,  and 
without  which  the  wealthiest  are  poor.  Notice 
a  few  scriptural  admonitions  more  fully.  The 
Lord  Jesus  gave  it  as  his  solemn  and  deliberate 
judgment,  that  one  thing  is  needful.  He  made 
this  impressive  declaration  to  one  who  loved 
him,  and  whom  he  loved,  "  One  thing  is  needful." 
Compared  with  it,  all  that  man  deems  most  im- 
portant is  an  insignificant  trifle  :  his  wisdom, 
folly  ;  his  business  and  cares,  laborious  idling; 
his  pomp  and  pleasures  as  vain  as  the  plays  of 
children,  and  his  possessions  as  worthless  as 
their  toys.     But  one  thing  is  needful.     All  that 

1  Tim.  vi.  12.  2  PeL  iii.  14.  Heb.  iv.  11.  Eccle«.  xii.  1. 

Pwv.  viii.  17.         Dcut.  v.  20.  Luke,  xii.  5.  Matt.  vi.  19,  30. 


Of  THE  IMPORTANCE  OF  RELIGION.  125 

has  agitated  the  generations  of  men  for  six- 
thousand  years;  all  that  has  engaged  their 
hearts  and  employed  their  fleeting  days,  com- 
pared with  this,  is  needless,  is  lighter  than  the 
driven  chaff,  emptier  than  the  bursting  bubble, 
and  vainer  than  the  flying  shadow. 

The  same  divine  speaker  said,  "Labour  not 
for  the  meat  that  perisheth,  but  for  that  which 
endureth  unto  everlasting  life."  He  did  not 
mean  to  forbid  a  proper  regard  to  the  duties  of 
this  life,  but  to  command  a  far  superior  atten- 
tion to  the  concerns  of  the  soul ;  and  he  assigns 
an  important  reason  for  conduct  which  the 
world  deems  madness.  Clothing  and  food,  the 
body  which  they  cherish,  and  even  the  world  on 
which  they  are  enjoyed,  must  shortly  perish, 
and  the  time  in  which  they  are  possessed  is  like 
the  twinkling  of  an  eye ;  but  the  blessings  of 
salvation  endure  to  everlasting  life ;  and  the  soul 
that  has  these  shall  enjoy  them  through  an  eter- 
nity so  boundless,  that,  compared  with  it,  ages, 
as  numerous  as  the  drops  of  the  sea,  and  one 
fleeting  moment  are  alike:  both  so  short,  that 
placed  by  the  side  of  eternity,  their  difference 
would  be  imperceptible,  both  would  be  nothing 
there.  Similar  to  this  is  the  commandment, 
"Seek  ye  first  the  kingdom  of  Cod  and  his 
righteousness.^*  Jesus  had  been  speaking  of 
food  and  raiment,  those  blessings  so  important 
to  this  life,  and  then  he  added,  "  seek  ye  first 
the  kingdom  of  God  and  his  righteousness  f  as 
if  he  had  said,  "  Let  thy  earliest  and  thy  chief 
care  be  to  gain  a  title  to  the  kingdom  of  God, 
and  an  interest  in  the  Redeemer's  righteousness. 
Prefer  this  not  merely  to  worldly  vanities  and 
follies,  but  to  the  most  important  earthly  bless- 


126      IMPORTANCE  OP  REUGION  SHOWN  FROM 

ings;  and  be  more  concerned  to  possess  this 
than  the  food  that  supports,  or  the  raiment  that 
protects,  that  feeble  body  of  thine." 

§  4.  While  the  divine  Saviour  thus  teaches 
you  to  prize  spiritual  blessings,  he  directs  you  to 
view  this  world  as  vanity ;  to  live  above  it ;  to 
expect  and  seek  but  little  from  it.  The  language 
of  his  word  is,  "  The  time  is  short,  let  those  that 
have  wives,  be  as  though  they  had  none ;  and 
they  that  weep,  as  though  they  wept  not ;  and 
they  that  rejoice,  as  though  they  rejoiced  not; 
and  they  that  buy,  as  though  they  possessed 
not ;  and  they  that  use  this  world,  as  not  abus- 
ing it,  for  the  fashion  of  this  world  passeth  away." 
Is  it  possible,  my  young  friend,  in  a  more  im- 
pressive manner  to  remind  you,  that  as  this 
world  is  a  nothing,  and  the  next  every  thing  to 
an  immortal  soul,  the  next  should  be  your  choice  ? 
The  happy  and  the  afflicted,  the  aged  and  the 
young,  the  noble  and  the  mean,  are  all  travellers 
to  eternity ;  and  to  them  all,  the  time  is  short. 
It  is  so  to  you.  Are  you  then  possessed  of  the 
most  endeared  and  affectionate  relatives  ?  have 
them  as  though  you  had  them  not ;  let  not  them 
or  their  affection  prevent  your  heart  from  rising 
to  nobler  friends  above.  Are  you  sorrowful  ? 
weep  as  though  you  wept  not.  Pursue  eternal 
good  with  the  same  avidity,  as  if  you  had  no 
sorrow  to  distract  your  mind.  Are  you  happy  ? 
rejoice  as  though  you  rejoiced  not ;  be  like  those, 
whose  hope  and  comforts  here  are  all  destroyed, 
and  who  have  not  one  pleasure  left  to  draw  their 
hearts  downwards  to  the  earth.  Have  you  the 
treasures  of  this  world  ?  have  them  as  though 
you  had  them  not ;  employ  them  for  the  glory 
of  God;  and  be  as  dead  to  them,  as  if  you  had 


1  coR.vii.29,30,31,&21.  luke^xvi.  19,&c.  127 

nothing  on  this  side  the  grave  your  own.  Let 
neither  the  pains  nor  the  pleasures  of  life,  neither 
poverty  nor  riches,  prevent  you  from  seeking, 
with  all  your  heart,  durable  riches  and  immortal 
glories.  In  the  same  chapter  it  is  said,  ''  Art 
thou  called  being  a  servant  (in  the  original,  a 
slave)  care  not  for  it."  As  much  as  saying,  It 
is  of  so  little  consequence,  in  what  situation  a 
child  of  God  passes  through  this  fleeting  world, 
that  even  slavery,  dreadful  as  it  is  to  human 
feelings,  is  a  thing  of  little  moment.  It  is  no 
great  matter,  for  so  short  a  time,  to  live  in  po- 
verty, hardship,  and  sorrow,  when  an  eternity  of 
light  and  joy,  and  peace  and  liberty,  is  just 
going  to  dawn  upon  the  soul. 

Thus,  my  young  friend,  you  see  it  is  the  judg- 
ment of  him  who  is  eternal  truth,  that  religion  is 
every  thing,  and  that  all  on  earth  is  as  nothing. 
Poverty  or  riches,  health  or  sickness,  food  or 
hunger,  slavery  or  liberty,  life  or  death,  all  are 
trifles  compared  with  that  one  most  precious, 
but  most  neglected  blessing. 

The  Lord  Jesus  Christ  places  the  value  and 
importance  of  real  piety  in  a  most  striking  light 
in  the  parable,  or  shall  I  say  the  history,  of  La- 
zarus and  the  rich  man:  see  Luke,  xvi.  19,  &c. 

Lazarus  is  described  as  poor,  despised,  af- 
flicted, a  beggar  without  one  earthly  friend.  He 
has  lived  in  poverty;  and  at  last,  unable  any 
longer  to  glean  his  scanty  pittance  by  wandering 
from  door  to  door,  he  is  laid  at  the  rich  man's 
gate,  worn  down  with  sickness.  No  kind  rela- 
tion, no  benevolent  friend  cheers  him.  The 
crumbs  which  fall  from  his  wealthy  neighbour's 
table  are  his  support;  and  these  he  earnestly  de- 
sires, to  satisfy  the  cravings   of  hunger.     His 


128      RELIGION  ENFORCED  BY  LUKE,  XVI.  19. 

tattered  rags  scarcely  cover  the  spreading  wounds 
in  his  disordered  and  dying  body  ;  and  the  dogs 
come  and  lick  his  sores.  Is  it  possible  to  de- 
scribe more  complicated  wretchedness  ?  But 
he  dies ;  and  now  he  who  had  not  one  friend 
on  earth,  has  angelic  friends  to  conduct  him  to 
the  regions  of  glory.  Now  farewell  to  poverty, 
to  begging,  to  grief,  to  tattered  rags,  to  painful 
wounds,  to  earth  and  all  its  sorrows.  He,  who 
had  no  abode  here,  finds  an  eternal  abode  in  the 
mansions  of  bliss.  He,  who  was  an  outcast  up- 
on earth,  walks  the  golden  streets  of  the  new  Je- 
rusalem, and  is  become  one  of  the  host  of  saints, 
and  "  angels  clothed  in  light/'  Near  him,  while 
upon  earth,  lived  one,  who  enjoyed  in  abundance 
the  pleasures,  gaieties,  and  honours  of  a  dying 
world.  He  knew  not  penury,  or  its  sorrows,  for 
he  was  rich ;  and  every  day  had  its  sumptuous 
fare,  and  every  season  its  splendid  attire.  But 
his  all  was  in  this  world,  he  had  nothing  beyond 
the  grave.  At  length  he  died.  The  skill  of  phy- 
sicians, the  tears  of  friends,  and  all  the  care  and 
attendance  which  wealth  commands,  cannot 
ward  off  the  stroke  of  death.  He  dies,  and  lifts 
up  his  eyes  in  hell.  Which  was  the  happy  man  ? 
which  the  possessor  of  a  real  treasure  ?  Surely 
you  cannot  hesitate  to  say,  Lazarus.  Yes,  La- 
zarus. In  his  poverty  he  v/as  rich  ;  in  his 
wretchedness  he  was  happy ;  when  he  had  no- 
thing, he  possessed  all  things  ;  and  when  his 
misery  seemed  most  complete,  he  was  nearest 
to  endless  life  and  joy.  What  was  it  that  made 
him  so  blessed  ?  It  was  true  piety.  Without 
that,  his  poverty  here  had  been  the  forerunner 
of  deeper  poverty  hereafter ;  and  poor  on  earth 
he  had  been  poorer  still  in  hell.     Wlien  he  was 


tARNESTNESS  IN  RELIGION  ENJOINED.        \2\) 

destitute  of  food,  and  friends,  and  raiment,  and 
shelter,  he  had  one  thing  left,  and  that  the  one 
thing  needful.  O  my  young  friend,  remember 
that  if  you  were  as  poor  as  Lazarus,  as  afflicted 
as  .Job,  as  persecuted  as  Paul,  the  love  of  Christ 
would  make  you  happy !  And  O,  consider  that 
without  this  you  must  be  a  miserable  wretch, 
though  you  were  to  live  in  wealth,  pomp,  plea- 
sure, and  even  royal  splendour ! 

§  5.  Thus,  my  young  friend,  the  divine  Sa- 
viour represents  real  religion  as  an  infinitely  im- 
portant  blessing ;  his  word  also  directs  you  to 
exert  all  the  earnestness  of  your  soul  in  its  pur- 
suit. You  are  exhorted  to  labour  for  the  meat 
which  endureth  unto  eternal  life ;  to  labour  to  enter 
into  rest ;  to  strive  to  enter  in  at  the  strait  gate  ; 
to  give  all  diligence  to  make  your  calling  and  elec- 
tion sure.  He  calls  on  you,  to  run  with  the  per- 
severance of  a  racer  ;  to  sacrifice  every  good  for 
this  one,  in  the  spirit  of  a  merchant,  who  would 
sell  his  all  to  buy  one  immensely  valuable  pearl; 
to  fight,  with  the  resolution  of  a  soldier  deter- 
mined to  conquer  or  die ;  and  even  to  suffer, 
with  the  constancy  of  a  martyr,  sooner  than  by 
neglecting  himself  to  lose  eternal  life.  In  two 
most  impressive  passages,  has  the  divine  Savi- 
our given  this  last  exhortation  :  "Fear  not  them 
which  kill  the  body,  and  after  that  have  no  more 
that  they  can  do."  The  loss  of  mortal  life,  he 
teaches  you  to  look  upon  as  a  little  thing,  if  the 
soul  is  but  safe.  "And  if  thy  hand  offend  (en- 
snare) thee,  cut  it  off:  it  is  better  for  thee  to  en- 
ter into  life  maimed,  than  having  two  hands  to 
go  into  hell,  into  the  fire  that  never  shall  be 
quenched  ;  where  their  worm  dieth  not,  and  the 
fire  is  not  quenched.     And  if  thy  foot  offend 


130     RELIGION  ENFORCED  BY  MARK,  IX.  46,  &C. 

(ensnare)  thee,  cut  it  off:  it  is  better  for  thee  to 
enter  halt  into  life,  than  having  two  feet  to  be  cast 
into  hell,  into  the  fire  that  never  shall  be  quench- 
ed ;  where  their  worm  dieth  not,  and  the  fire  is 
not  quenched.  And  if  thine  eye  offend  (ensnare) 
thee,  pluck  it  out :  it  is  better  for  thee  to  enter 
into  the  kingdom  of  God  with  one  eye,  than  hav- 
ing two  eyes  to  be  cast  into  hell  fire;  where  their 
worm  dieth  not,  and  the  fire  is  not  quenched :" 
(Mark,  ix.  46.)  How  solemn  an  admonition,  to 
make  every  sacrifice  for  eternal  life,  is  contained 
in  this  awful  passage  !  Not  merely  does  the  Son 
of  God  command  you  to  part  with  toys  and  trin- 
kets for  his  sake;  but,  to  esteem  no  sacrifices  nor 
sufferings  too  great  when  life  eternal  is  at  stake. 
To  cut  oflf  a  right  hand,  then  amputate  a  right 
x)ot,  then  tear  out  a  right  eye,  would  be  to  nature 
dreadfully  severe:  yet  his  direction  is,  if  any 
thing  which  it  would  cost  you  as  much  pain  to 
resign,  as  to  do  all  this,  should  endanger  your 
salvation,  bear  the  pain ;  and  whatever  the  body 
suffers,  take  care  that  the  soul  is  not  undone. 
Most  of  the  Lord's  hearers  were  the  poor ;  and  to 
them  the  right  hand  is  peculiarly  important,  as 
by  its  labour  their  support  is  earned ;  and  thus 
maimed,  they  might  but  linger  out  the  remain- 
der of  a  wretched  existence.  Taking  these  things 
into  consideration,  how  solemn  is  the  counsel  ol 
him,  who  spake  as  never  man  spake.  It  is  as  if 
he  had  said, "  Salvation  is  the  one  thing  needful ; 
and  think  nothing  too  precious  to  be  resigned  on 
its  account :  what  though  any  thing  as  dear  and 
important  to  you,  as  the  hand  that  earns  your 
food,  the  foot  on  which  you  pursue  your  labours, 
the  eye  which  warns  you  of  a  thousand  dangers, 
and  which  is  the  source  of  a  thousand  satisfac- 


APPEAL  TO  THE  YOUNG  READER.      131 

tions  ;  what  though  any  thing  thus  dear  and  use- 
ful, should  ensnare  your  immortal  soul,  yet  part 
with  it ;  yes,  part  with  it,  though  it  cost  you  as 
much  exquisite  torture  to  do  so,  as  it  would  to 
tear  the  tender  eye  from  its  socket,  and  to  cut 
away  the  right  hand  and  foot  from  the  body  they 
support  and  adorn.  Part  with  the  dear  cause  of 
destruction,  though,  through  its  loss,  the  rest  of 
your  days  were  even  to  be  spent  in  misery  and 
want.  Yet  mind  not  the  miseries  of  an  hour,  to 
escape  those  of  eternity ;  mind  not  all  that  a  fee- 
ble body  can  endure,  to  escape  the  worm  that  ne- 
ver dieth,  and  the  fire  that  never  shall  be  quench- 
ed. Better,  far  better,  were  it  for  you,  to  go,  if 
needful,  through  pain,  and  want,  and  wretched- 
ness, to  heaven,  than  through  comfort,  and  ease, 
and  prosperity,  to  hell."  Solemn  and  awakening 
charge  !  O  that  it  were  felt  by  every  heart !  Aw- 
ful, awful  warning,  repeated  six  times  by  a  com- 
passionate Saviour,  that  there  the  fire  never  shall 
be  quenched. 

Will  you,  my  young  friend,  listen  to  his 
words  ?  Will  you,  if  you  have  not  yet  done  so, 
now  give  your  youth  to  God,  and  receive  the 
blessed  Jesus  as  your  all  in  all  ?  If  you  refuse, 
O  may  the  God  of  mercy  grant,  that  wherever 
you  go  in  your  mad  career  of  business  or  of  plea- 
sure, the  words  of  Christ  may  follow  you,  and 
still  thunder  in  your  ear,  that  in  that  dismal 
abode,  whither  sin  and  folly  lead  the  soul,  the 
fire  never  shall  be  quenched !  Flee,  then,  from 
it !  Flee  for  your  life  !  Flee  for  your  soul !  If 
milder  motives  have  not  moved  you,  what  can 
awaken  you,  if  this  warning  of  the  Lord's  can- 
not !  Flee  from  the  dear  delights  of  sin,  that  are 
binding  you  over  to  perdition !     They  conduct 


132  PRAYER  FOR  GRACE  TO 

to  that  hell,  where  the  fire  never,  never  shall  be 
quenched.  Flee  from  sins,  that  have  ruled  you 
to  the  present  hour  !  or  they  will  shortly  fix  you 
where  the  worm  of  remorse  and  despair  can  ne- 
ver, never  die.  Flee,  or  ere  long  the  fire  of  hell, 
flashing  in  your  face,  will  tell  you,  that  your  day 
of  grace  is  past ;  and  the  worm  that  never  dieth, 
rising  in  your  soul,  will  sting  you  with  huge,  in- 
expressible, and  everlasting  sorrows. 

A  PRAYER,  IMPLORING  GRACE  TO  PAY  DEVOUT  ATTEN- 
TION TO  THE  SCRIPTURAL  ADVICE  CONTAINED  IN  THIS 
CHAPTER. 

O  thou  great  and  beneficent  Father  of  all,  while 
I  draw  near  to  thee  in  prayer,  stoop,  for  Jesus's 
sake,  to  accept  my  feeble  oflfering.  Humiliation 
should  be  mine  in  these  solemn  seasons,  while 
infinite  condescension  is  thine.  I  have  passed 
but  a  few  fleeting  years  in  this  world,  yet,  per- 
haps, have  already  seen  many  more  than  I  shall 
ever  see  again ;  and,  O  Lord,  what  folly,  misery, 
and  madness,  have  marked  much  of  my  mortal 
course'!  Instead  of  seeking  first  thy  kingdom 
and  its  righteousness,  many  of  my  early  years 
have  been  devoted  to  a  thousand  trifling  vani- 
ties ;  and,  negligent  of  laying  up  my  treasures 
in  heaven,  I  have  sought  that  felicity  among  the 
follies  of  time  and  sense,  which  can  be  found  in 
thee  alone. 

Thou,  O  gracious  Lord,  hast  an  eternal,  im- 
mutable right  to  teach  me  what  to  choose,  and 
what  to  shun.  Listening  to  thy  word,  may  I 
make  true  piety  my  early  and  immediate  choice ; 
and  may  I  have  strength  from  thee  to  count  all 
things  loss,  that  I  may  win  Christ.  If  I  should 
have  to  pass  over  a  painful  path  to  heaven,  still 
let  me  tread  that  path,  assured,  that  one  hour  of 


BECOME  ALTOGETHER  A  CHRISTIAN.  133 

glory  there  will  compensate  all  the  sorrows  of 
the  way.     INIay  I  follow  those  who  trod  a  thorny 
way  before  me,  and  who  are  inheriting  the  pro- 
mises.    Let  me  count  no  sufferings  too  heavy  to 
be  endured  on  his  account,  who  bore  the  cross 
for  me.    When  the  world  tempts  me ;  when  reli- 
gion is  despised,  and  this  vile  heart  would  be 
negligent  of  its  blessings :  then  let  me  thmk  of 
his  dying  love  and  of  his  various  admonitions ; 
then  let  me  gladly  make  the  most  painful  sacri- 
fices, so  that  I  may  but  escape  the  never-dying 
worm,  and  be  a  partaker  in  his  righteousness, 
and  an  heir  of  thy  kingdom.     Impress  deeply 
on  my  heart,  that  the  time  is  short;  and  may  I 
rejoice  or  weep,  possess  or  want,  as  a  traveller 
to  eternity.  May  I,  from  this  time,  cry  unto  thee. 
My  Father,  thou  art  the  guide  of  my  youth.     May 
the  blessings  be  mine  which  rest  on  the  hum- 
ble, the  pure  in  heart,  and  the  peaceful.     IVIay 
I  hunger  and  thirst  after  righteousness,  and  feel 
those  desires,  which  nothing  but  thy  love   can 
satisfy,  and  may  I  be  filled.    May  I  consider  my 
latter  end,  and  when  the  solemn  hour  of  separa- 
tion from  all  mortal  things  arrives,  then,  O  my 
God,  look  down  upon  me,  and  show  a  father's 
love.    Cheer  my  departing  spirit  with  thy  smile. 
Let  joys  like  those  of  Lazarus,  then  be  mine. 
May  ministering  angels  surround  my  astonished 
soul ;  and  conduct  it  through  the  wondrous,  but, 
by  me,  untrodden  path,  that  leads  from  earth  to 
heaveUc     There  may  I  join  the  company,  whose 
robes  are  washed  in  Jesus's  blood  ;  and  there  for 
ever  celebrate  thy  love,  and  pay  my  grateful  ho- 
nours to  the  Lamb  that  was  slain.     Gracious 
Father,  for  his  sakCanswer,  and  more  than  tan- 
«wer,  these  my  humble  prayers     Amen. 


134 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE  LOVE  OF  GOD   AND  THE  LORD  JESUS  CHRIST  A 
REASON  FOR  EARLY   PIETY. 

§  1.  History  relates,  that  one  of  those  hap- 
py and  triumphant  saints,  who  passed  through 
the  sorrows  of  martyrdom,  to  the  glories  of  hea- 
ven, just  before  he  expired,  lifting  up  his  burn- 
ing hands  from  the  midst  of  the  flames,  exclaim- 
ed, "  None  but  Christ,  none  but  Christ !"  In  this, 
and  ten  thousand  other  instances,  martyrdom  it- 
self was  cheerfully  borne,  through  love  to  the 
adorable  Saviour :  but  whence  sprung  this  fer- 
vent love  ?  The  apostle's  words  reply.  We  love 
him,  because  he  first  loved  lis.  My  young  friend, 
let  me  call  your  attention  to  this  most  pleasing 
and  most  powerful  motive,  for  devoting  your 
youth  to  God.  Martyrs  loved  their  God,  be- 
cause he  had  first  loved  them.  —  Martyrs  died 
for  their  Redeemer,  because  he  had  first  died  for 
them;  but  consider,  I  beseech  you,  that  all 
which  was  done  for  them,  was  done  for  you. 
That  love  which  won  their  hearts,  has  been  man- 
ifested for  you  as  well  as  them.  God  in  the 
gospel,  is  as  kind  to  you  as  he  was  to  them  ; 
heaven  as  open  to  you  as  it  was  to  them ;  and 
Jesus  died  for  you  as  well  as  for  them.  Spend 
then,  a  few  serious  moments,  in  meditating  on 
divine  love.  I  have  glanced  at  this  subject  be- 
fore, but  now  entreat  you  to  consider  more  fully 
the  love  of  God,  and  the  love  of  Christ. 

§  2.  In  the  works  of  the  Most  High  you  may 
discern  his  love.  The  fruits,*we  gather,  the  sum- 
mers we  enjoy,  the  harvests  we  reap,  the  air  we 


THE  LOVE  OF  GOD  IN  GIVING  CHRIST.         135 

breathe ;  are  all  proofs  of  the  love  of  God.  Your 
healthful  clays,  your  easy  nights,  your  food,  your 
raiment,  your  tender  friends  ;  all  these  are  gifts 
from  the  God  of  love.  He  crowns  successive 
seasons  with  his  goodness;  and  seed-time  and 
harvest,  summer  and  winter,  are  fraught  with  his 
blessings  In  infancy,  childhood,  and  youth, 
you  have  experienced  his  kindness.  Unnumber- 
ed mercies  descended  from  him  to  you,  before 
you  could  be  conscious  whence  they  came;  and 
the  streams  of  his  kindness  have  continued  full 
even  to  your  present  day;  and  should  you  choose 
him  as  your  God  and  portion,  then  his  kindness 
will  endure  while  eternal  ages  roll.  It  is  in  the 
gift  of  his  Son,  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  that  his 
divinest  love  is  manifested.  "  God  so  loved  the 
world,  that  he  gave  his  only-begotten  Son,  that 
whosoever  believeth  in  him  should  not  perish, 
but  have  everlasting  life." 

§  3.  The  gift  of  Christ  is  uniformly  represent- 
ed in  the  scriptures,  as  caused  by  the  love  of  God. 
That  blessed  book  assures  us,  that  the  divine  Re- 
deemer did  all  that  he  did,  and  endured  all  that 
he  endured,  in  consequence  of  the  love  of  God 
to  a  ruined  w^orld.  The  testimony  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  to  this  momentous  truth,  is  given  in 
the  words  just  quoted;  his  inspired  apostles  as- 
sert the  same.  "  God  commendeth  his  love  to- 
wards us,  in  that  while  we  were  yet  sinners,  Christ 
died  for  us."  "  Herein  is  love,  not  that  we  loved 
God,  but  that  he  loved  us,  and  sent  his  Son  to 
be  the  propitiation  for  our  sins."  Does  the  motive 
of  a  giver,  enhance  the  value  of  a  gift  ?  how  then 
should  you  value  Jesus,  the  best  gift  of  God  !  In 
the  gospel  the  infinite  Lord  of  lords  is  displayed, 

John,  iii    lf».        Rom.  v.  8.        IJohn,  iv.  10. 


1  36      THE  NATURE  OF  CIIRrST  INCOMPREHENSIBLE. 

as  Stooping  from  the  throne  of  his  eternal  majes- 
ty, to  interest  himself  in  your  behalf;  and  love 
to  helpless  and  guilty  man,  appears  the  directing 
motive  even  in  the  conduct  of  the  Most  High. 
God  so  loved  the  world. 

§  4.  The  love  of  God,  to  your  immortal  soul, 
is  displayed  in  the  greatness  of  the  gift,  which  he 
gave  for  your  redemption.  Think  of  the  Giver, 
and  adore;  think  of  the  Gift,  and  praise  and  won- 
der. The  brightest  throne  in  glory  was  made  va- 
cant on  our  account;  and  Jesus,  the  delight  of 
heaven,  for  us  became  a  sufferer  upon  earth.  He 
is  with  God,  and  is  God ;  and  is  one  with  the 
Father,  in  a  way  which  none  can  comprehend. 
On  this  subject,  curious  inquiry  is  fruitless  ;  de- 
voLit  belief,  in  what  God  has  declared,  and  hum- 
ble adoration  best  become  us.  A  worm  or  a  mole 
cannot  conceive  the  nature  of  the  sun,  or  dive  in- 
to the  secrets  of  revolving  planets,  of  stars  fixed, 
or  comets  wandering  for  ages  in  the  depths  of 
the  sky ;  but  worms  and  moles  might  better  at- 
tempt to  unfold  the  mysteries  of  the  starry  firma- 
ment, than  man  try  to  unfold  the  more  inexpli- 
cable mj'steries,  contained  in  the  nature  of  Christ. 
Look  on  him  as  God  with  man;  the  well-belov- 
ed of  the  Father.  By  his  hands  the  worlds  were 
formed,  and  he  is  the  same  yesterday,  to-day, 
and  for  ever.  He  framed  the  skies  ;  jet,  by  his 
Father's  appointment,  bled  for  you.  He  was  the 
object  of  his  Father's  infinite  delight;  yet  such 
is  the  compassion  of  your  injured  God,  that  he 
gave  even  Jesus,  his  dearest  treasure,  to  be  the 
price  of  your  redemption. 

§  6.  The  love  of  God,  in  giving  his  beloved 
Son  for  your  salvation,  is  enhanced  by  his  own 

John,  i.  1 ;     X.  30.  —  Matt.  xi.  27. 


THE  LOVE  OF  GOD.  137 

infinite  excellencies.  Join  all  the  most  noble 
representations  of  power  and  majesty,  and  all 
fall  short  of  him  at  last.  Heap  tog^ether  all 
the  most  splendid  descriptions  of  glory  and 
greatness,  and  apply  them  to  the  Almighty, 
and  they  will  but  dishonour  him  at  best.  If 
you  imagine,  as  some  philosophers  dream,  every 
star  to  be  in  reality  another  sun,  and  every  sun 
attended  by  its  revolving  worlds  ;  yet  God,  the 
great  and  glorious  God,  excels  them  more,  than 
they  united  would  excel  one  glimmering  spark. 
Think  of  God,  and  what  is  man  !  Surely  but 
the  insect  of  a  moment,  on  the  atom  of  a  day. 
Yet  in  redemption,  to  man  the  meanest,  did  God 
the  highest  stoop  from  his  eternal  throne.  With 
an  eye  of  softest  compassion,  he  looked  down, 
unutterably  low,  upon  a  perishing  and  guilty 
world ;  no  help  was  seen,  but  his  own  arm 
brought  salvation.  In  the  gift  of  Christ  also,  we 
see  the  Most  Holy  stooping  to  visit  the  most  pol- 
luted. The  sun  has  its  dark  spots ;  but  the  God 
of  heaven  has  not  the  shadow  of  a  defect.  He  is 
as  holy  as  he  is  high,  as  pure  as  he  is  powerful ; 
while  miserable  man  is  polluted  with  all  deprav- 
ity, stained  with  every  sin,  black  with  every 
crime. 

§  6.  The  love  of  God  was  still  further  en- 
hanced, by  his  knowledge  of  the  deep  abasement 
and  cruel  neglect,  which  awaited  his  beloved 
Son.  Before  Jesus  left  the  bosom  of  the  Father, 
he  foresaw  through  what  scenes  his  beloved  Son 
would  pass.  He  saw  the  Saviour  on  the  cross, 
before  the  cross  was  formed ;  and  heard  his  ex- 
piring groan,  before  that  groan  was  uttered.  A 
parent  parting  with  his  beloved  son,  may  dismiss 
him  more  readily,  if  assured  that  everywhere  a 


138  THE  LOVE  OP  GOD  IN 

kind  reception  would  await  him;  but  with  re- 
gret, if  conscious  that  nothing  but  sorrow  and 
distress  would  attend  him.  A  stranger  to  the 
world  might  have  expected,  that  the  blessed  Je- 
sus would  have  met  with  an  infinitely  welcome 
reception  here.  It  might  have  been  supposed, 
that  desiring  nations  would  have  been  ready  to 
hail  his  arrival ;  to  offer  him  the  throne  of  the 
world,  as  some  humble  compensation  for  leav- 
ing his  own  ;  to  echo  the  shouts  of  glory  to  God 
in  the  highest,  for  peace  on  earth  and  good-will 
towards  men ;  to  receive  the  illustrious  visitant  as 
an  object  of  universal  admiration,  esteem,  and 
love.  But  the  Most  High  knew  that  the  blessed 
Jesus  would  not  be  thus  loved,  admired,  and  fol- 
lowed ;  he  knew  that  gracious  friend  of  sinners 
would  have  for  his  attendants  a  few  despised  and 
persecuted  men ;  would  be  without  a  dwelling, 
except  the  chance  one  which  a  few  friends  afford- 
ed, and  sometimes  in  the  most  literal  sense, 
without  a  place  to  lay  his  head.  He  knew  the 
shouts  which  awaited  his  beloved  Son  were.  Cm- 
clfy  him,  crucify  him  !  aivay  ivith  him  !  not  this 
man,  hut  Barabbas  !  his  blood  he  on  us,  and  on  our 
children!  This  was  the  reception  the  blessed  Suf- 
ferer met  with  from  the  world  he  came  to  save ; 
a  reception  foreseen  by  his  heavenly  Father, 
who  displayed  his  own  boundless  love,  in  be- 
stowing such  a  gift  on  such  a  world.  On  a  world, 
too,  of  which  the  greater  part  would  still  make 
their  own  destruction  sure;  and  in  spile  of  all 
these  miracles  of  love,  would  still  prefer  the  dross 
of  earth  to  a  dying  Saviour  and  a  gracious  God. 
Well  might  Christ  say,  God  SO  loved  the  world. 
His  compassion  is  beyond  description.  O,  the 
heights,  and  depths,  and  breadths,  and  lengths 


GIVING  CHRIST,  INEXPRESSIBLE.  189 

of  the  love  of  God  ;  It  is  higher  than  lieaven,  what 
canst  thou  know  !  deeper  than  hell,  ivJmt  canst  thou 
do  !  the  measure  thereof  is  longer  than  the  earth, 
and  broader  than  the  sea  !  It  is  as  vast  as  his 
own  eternity.  Could  the  extended  sky  be  crowd- 
ed with  expressions,  to  declare  the  greatness  of 
the  love  of  God  ;  the  extended  sky  would  not 
contain  the  half.  Could  the  ocean  be  emptied, 
drop  by  drop,  and  ages  pass  between  every  drop; 
could  the  world  be  destroyed,  grain  by  grain,  and 
ages  pass  between  every  grain;  and  could  an 
archangel  be  employed,  through  all  those  ages, 
in  unfolding  the  riches  of  divine  love :  the  ocean 
would  be  emptied,  and  the  world  would  be  de- 
stroyed, before  he  had  half  finished  his  task. 
Here  eternity  alone  can  suffice. 

§  7.  And  now,  my  young  friend,  what  does 
this  love  demand  ?  Can  you  give  that  gracious 
God  too  much,  who  gave  his  Son  for  you  ?  Can 
you  too  soon  give  him  your  all  ?  O,  would  you 
part  with  a  father,  a  mother,  a  brother,  a  sister, 
a  friend,  to  redeem  even  another  friend  from 
distress  and  ruin  ?  But  your  much-injured  God 
has  resigned  his  beloved  Son  to  death,  to  redeem 
a  world  and  you  from  perishing.  He  has  done 
this,  not  for  friends,  but  enemies ;  thus  has  he 
commended  his  love ;  for  enemies,  wilful,  wick- 
ed, hell-deserving  enemies.  Shall  all  this  be  lost 
upon  you  ?  Had  some  friend,  by  hazarding  his 
life  for  you,  snatched  you  from  a  burning  house, 
or  raging  sea,  how  warm  would  have  been  your 
professions  of  gratitude !  But  God  has  given 
Jesus  to  snatch  you  from  more  dreadful  danger, 
even  when  he  knew  that  his  beloved  Son  would 
fall  a  victim  to  his  compassion.  How  frozen  is 
your  heart,  if  such  goodness  does  not  melt  it  in. 


140     EARLY  PIETY  URGED  FROM  THE  LOVE  OF  GOD. 

to  penitence  and  love !  Gracious  Almighty, 
what  can  we  render  unto  thee  !  we,  bought  by  the 
blood  of  thy  Son  ;  we,  redeemed  by  thy  best  be- 
loved ;  we,  whose  sins  he  has  borne,  whose  sor- 
rows he  has  carried  ;  we,  rescued  from  the  flam- 
ing pit  of  misery,  not  at  the  mere  hazard  of  his 
life,  but  by  that  invalued  life,  and  by  sufferings 
more  than  human :  what  can  we  offer  —  but 
ourselves  !  By  all  this  matchless  love,  I  beseech 
you  to  be  reconciled  to  God.  O,  harden  not  your 
heart  against  your  best  benefactor  ;  be  not  your 
own  worst  enemy,  when  God  would  be  your 
kindest  friend.  O,  refuse  not  your  youth  to  him, 
who  has  such  infinite  claims  upon  you  !  It  has 
been  justly  said  of  ingratitude,  that  it  is  "of  vi- 
ces, first,  most  infamous  and  most  accurst."  It 
was  the  sin  of  Satan ;  but,  O  my  youthful  rea- 
der, how  deeply  will  you  be  polluted  with  it,  if 
you  refuse  to  give  your  youth  to  God !  His 
kindness  to  you  through  successive  years,  in  in- 
fancy, in  childhood,  in  youth,  in  health,  in  sick- 
ness, claims  your  heait ;  but,  O,  the  gift  of  his 
Son  '  If  you  had  ten  thousand  hearts,  the  love 
there  manifested  would  claim  them  all ;  and  will 
you  deny  him  that  one  ?  Too  long  has  it  been 
shut  against  him,  while  sin  and  folly  have  tri- 
umphed  in  your  breast;  but  shall  it  be  shut 
against  him  still !  Shall  sin  and  folly  still  be 
preferred  to  a  most  kind  compassionate  God? 
Had  you  ten  thousand  lives,  the  love  of  God 
would  demand  them  all !  O,  then,  refuse  him 
not  that  little  span  of  life,  which  is  all  you  will 
ever  have  in  this  world. 

§  8.  From  contemplating  the  love  of  God,  the 
Father,  pass  on  to  view  that  of  his  Almighty  Son. 
Though  the  Father  gave  his  best  beloved,  yet  Je- 


GLORY   AND  HUMILIATION  OF  CHRIST.         141 

sus  came  not  by  compulsion,  but  to  be  a  willing 
victim. 

"  Nothing  brought  him  from  above. 

Nothing  but  redeeming  love.'* 

His  language  was,  "Lo,  T  come  to  do  thy  will, 
O  God."  He  declared,  "Therefore  doth  my  Fa- 
ther love  me,  because  I  lay  down  my  life  that  I 
might  take  it  again.  No  man  taketh  it  from  me, 
but  I  lay  it  down  of  myself.  I  have  power  to  lay 
it  down,  and  I  have  power  to  take  it  again." 
"  Ye  know  the  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
that  though  he  was  rich,  for  your  sakes  he  be- 
came poor,  that  ye,  through  his  poverty,  might 
be  rich."  "  Christ  Jesus,  who,  being  in  the  form 
of  God,  thought  it  not  robbery  to  be  equal  with 
God;  but  madehimself  of  no  reputation,  and  took 
upon  him  the  foiTn  of  a  servant,  and  was  made 
in  the  likeness  of  men  :  and  being  found  in  fash- 
ion as  a  man,  he  humbled  himself,  and  became 
obedient  unto  death,  even  the  death  of  the  cross." 
Follow  him  in  your  thoughts,  from  his  throne 
of  glory,  to  ''his  poor  manger,  and  his  bitter 
cross,"  and  mark  the  painful  steps  he  trod;  then 
may  you  feel  that  never  love  was  like  his  love, 
and  never  sorrow  like  his  sorrow.  O,  meditate  on 
the  compassion  of  a  friend,  before  whose  love 
that  of  the  fondest  earthly  friend  vanishes  to  no- 
thing ;  your  best,  yet,  alas  !  perhaps,  your  most 
forgotten  friend.  He  was  the  inhabitant  of  hea- 
ven before  the  world  was  fonned.  Eternal  glo- 
ries were  his  ;  all  the  riches  of  heaven  were  his 
portion;  and  angels  and  archangels  bowed  at 
his  feet.  The  happiness  of  the  meanest  of  his 
disciples,  in  the  heavenly  world,  is  inexpressible. 
O,  what  then  was  the  glory  which  the  Son  of  God 

Ueb.  X.  9.        John,  x.  17,  18.        2  Coi.  viii.  9.        P'ul.  ii.  5  —  8. 


142      THE  LOVE  OF  THE  LORD  JESUS 

had  with  the  Father,  before  the  world  was,  when 
lie  thought  it  not  robbery  to  be  equal  with  God  ! 
yet  all  this  did  he  lay  aside  for  you,  for  me.  You 
have,  perhaps,  heard  of  this  astonishing  love,  till 
it  scarcely  impresses  or  affects  your  mind ;  but 
think,  if  you  can,  of  something  that  may  bear  a 
humble  comparison  with  it.  Suppose  that  a  per- 
son, not  like  you,  but  more  happy,  in  a  more  ex- 
alted station,  one  who  might  unite  the  piety  of 
Paul  with  the  glory  and  wisdom  of  Solomon, 
should,  from  some  disinterested  motive,  resign 
his  happiness  and  honour,  and  assume  the  na- 
ture of  a  worm,  like  that  to  crawl  on  the  ground, 
and  hide  in  the  dust ;  would  not  this  be  love  ? 
Could  you  do  this  ?  Yet  this  would  bear  no 
comparison  with  the  love  of  Christ.  Could  this 
be  done,  one  creature  would  take  upon  him  the 
meaner  nature  of  a  brother  worm  ;  but  when  the 
Son  of  God  appeared  in  the  likeness  of  men,  the 
Almighty  Creator  took  on  him  the  nature  of  the 
sinful  creature.  He  came  from  a  world  where 
no  sorrows  enter,  to  a  world  of  sorrow  and  dis- 
tress. Born  in  poverty,  he  continued  so  poor 
that  he  could  say,  "The  foxes  have  holes,  and  the 
birds  of  the  air  nests;  but  the  Son  of  man  hath  not 
where  to  lay  his  head.''  He  was  wearied  with  la- 
bours, and  driven  from  place  to  place  by  the  per- 
secution of  those  very  persons  whose  happiness 
he  came  to  seek.  He  wept  over  wretched  men, 
whom  he  saw  ruining  themselves  for  this  world 
and  the  next.  And,  O  my  young  friend,  if  you 
are  unacquainted  with  his  grace,  were  he  upon 
earth  again  he  might  weep  for  you.  He  would 
see  your  danger,  if  you  see  it  not.  He  would 
know  the  worth  of  your  soul,  though  you  know 
it  not ;  and  would  see,  in  all  its  horrors,  the  pre- 


MANIFESTED  BY  HIS  SUFFERINGS.  143 

cipice  whence  you  are  falling-,  and  the  state  of 
misery  into  which  j^ou  are  plunging.  After  he 
had  manifested  his  love  to  man,  by  his  instruc- 
tions, his  tears,  his  prayers,  his  labours  and  his 
institutions,  at  length  the  last  sad  scene  of  his 
innocent  life  drew  on ;  and  now  behold  the  man  ! 
See  him  in  the  garden  of  Gethsemane,  weighed 
down  with  inward  sorrow.  "  J\[y  soul,"  said  he 
"  is  exceeding  sorrowful,  even  unto  death."  He 
was  so  overwhelmed  with  a  horrid  mixture  of  dis- 
tress and  anguish,  that  he  prayed,  if  it  were  pos- 
sible, the  painful  cap  might  pass  from  him ;  but 
he  added,  ''Father,  not  as  I  will,  but  as  thou 
wilt."  He  saw  the  world  lying  in  wickedness, 
and  ready  to  drop  into  eternal  flames,  and  the 
iniquities  of  millions  were  meeting  upon  him ; 
but  though  oppressed  by  more  terrors  than  any 
of  his  martyred  followers  ever  felt,  he  would  not 
give  up  his  great  work ;  he  would  not  let  go  a 
sinking  world.  Again  and  again  he  prayed,  and 
an  angel  appeared  from  heaven  to  strengthen 
him ;  yet  his  unspeakable  agony  continued  so 
dreadful,  that  his  sweat  was  as  it  were  great 
drops  of  blood  falling  to  the  ground.  Was  there 
any  sorrow  like  his  sorrov/  ?  Stop  not  here  ;  he 
who  went  to  Calvary  for  you,  had  not  reached  it 
yet.  See  him  betrayed  by  the  kiss  of  a  traitor. 
Behold  the  injustice,  the  insults,  the  ignominy 
of  his  mock  trial.  The  vilest  malefactor  proba- 
bly would  not  have  had  such  barbarous  treat- 
ment. Some  spit  in  his  face ;  others  cover  his 
eyes,  strike  him,  and  scoffing,  bid  him  prophesy 
who  struck  him.  Yet  did  not  one  repining  word 
escape  his  blessed  lips  ;  he  was  meekly  suffer- 
ing for  his  tormentors,  and  for  you.  The  heath- 
en soldiers  at   length   begin  their   part  in  this 


144      THE  LOVE  OF  THE  LORD  JESUS 

bloody  tragedy.  They  scourge  him,  dress  him 
in  a  royal  robe,  plat  a  crown  of  thorns  and 
place  a  reed  or  walking  staff,  as  a  mock  sceptre, 
in  his  hand.  With  cruelty  yet  unglutted,  they 
take  the  staff  and  strike  him  on  the  head  to  give 
more  exquisite  pain  by  those  blows,  which  might 
drive  the  thorns  of  the  crown  into  his  temples 
and  his  forehead ;  and  now  behold  the  man, 
clad  in  the  robe  of  mock  majesty  ;  his  head 
crowned  with  thorns,  and  streaming  with  blood ; 
his  face  bruised  with  blows,  his  body  torn  by 
scourges  :  was  ever  love  like  his  love  !  He  is 
condemned;  and  now  see  him  carrying  his  cross, 
execrated  and  despised.  Dreadful  was  his  path 
to  Calvary,  but  he  reached  it  at  last ;  yet  not  to 
escape  from  his  sorrows,  these  would  only  end 
with  his  life.  Behold  him  at  the  fatal  spot.  See 
the  cross  formed,  and  him  extended  on  it ;  yet  even 
there  he  prays,  *'  Father,  forgive  them,  for  they 
know  not  what  they  do."  Listen  to  the  strokes  of 
the  hammer  that  drives  the  nails  through  his 
hands  and  feet.  Mark  the  gushing  blood,  the 
shattered  bones.  See  the  cross  raised  from  the 
earth  on  which  it  lay,  and  let  down  with  a  jerk 
into  the  hole  in  which  it  should  stand,  that  this 
might  torture  more  the  tortured  body  that 
hung  upon  it.  Through  six  long  hours  of  inde- 
scribable misery,  behold  the  Divine  Sufferer  thus 
suspended,  execrated  by  earth,  insulted  by  his 
cruel  foes;  and  even  in  appearance  deserted  by 
heaven,  when  he  uttered  that  mournful  cry.  My 
God,  my  God,  ivhy  hast  thou  forsaken  me!  His 
Father  seemingly  deserted  his  best  beloved  for 
a  time,  that  he  might  be  able  to  receive  you,  a 
poor  sinful  wanderer,  and  make  you  his  for 
ever.    At  length  he  expired.    What  a  scene  fol- 


DISPLAYED  BY  HIS  SUFFERINGS  &  INVITATIONS  ;    145 

lowed !  rocks  rending,  graves  opening,  midnight 
darkness  at  noon-day.  Was  it  an  emblem  of 
that  everlasting  darkness  which  shall  overwhelm 
an  ungodly  world !  Or  would  heaven  hide  the 
dishonours  of  its  Lord  !  When  he  left  his  throne 
of  glory  he  knew  that  all  this  was  to  befall  him ; 
he  knew  that  he  should  be  treated  as  if  he  were 
the  worst  of  malefactors;  he  knew  that  the  hand 
which 

"  Formed  the  skies  would  bleed  for  you, 

But  bleed  the  balm  you  waut." 

And  he  so  loved  our  wretched  and  guilty  race, 
that  the  view  of  all  these  dreadful  scenes  prevent- 
ed not  his  coming.  He  came  to  save;  and  is 
able  to  save  unto  the  uttermost. 

§  9.  The  love  of  Christ  is  displayed  by  the  free 
and  gracious  invitations  in  his  word.  One  or  two 
of  these  may  serve  as  specimens  of  many.  He 
came  to  seek  and  save  the  lost.  Let  the  proud 
pharisee  scorn  the  penitent  publican;  but  Jesus 
calls  publicans  and  sinners  to  himself.  Let  the 
self-conceited  philosopher  look  with  contempt 
upon  the  unlearned  and  the  poor,  who  disregard 
his  cobweb  speculations ;  but  Jesus  welcomes  the 
poorest  and  most  ignorant  to  his  arms  of  mercy. 
**  Come,"  saith  he,  "  come  unto  me,  all  ye  that 
labour  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you 
rest.'-  "  Him  that  cometh  to  me  I  will  in  no 
wise  cast  out."  To  those  who  feel  the  vast 
weight  of  their  eternal  interests,  and  their  own 
ruined  stale,  how  welcome  are  these  promises, 
and  such  as  these !  It  is  as  much  as  if  he  had 
said,  "Come  unto  me.  Man  may  despise  you, 
but  I  will  receive  you.  Come,  all  ye  who  labour 
for  salvation,  and  who  are  laden  with  sins  and 

Matt.  xi.  28.     5  John,  vi.  37. 


146        BY  HIS  INTERCESSION  AND  PERPETUAL  CARE. 

sorrows.  Come,  not  one  of  you  only,  not  a 
thousand  only,  not  a  million  only,  but  all. 
Come  from  every  nation ;  come  in  every  age-; 
come  from  every  rank  of  life ;  come  from  every 
class  of  sinners  ;  come,  ye  who,  feeling  the  bur- 
den most  oj^pressive,  are  almost  driven  to  despair. 
Come,  all ;  for  ye  cannot  come  in  such  multi- 
tudes that  I  cannot  help  you ;  ye  cannot  come 
so  burdened  that  I  cannot  relieve  you  ;  ye  can- 
not come  so  wretched  that  I  will  not  save  you. 
Come  then,  and  I  will  in  no  wise,  on  no  account 
whatever,  cast  you  out." 

§  10.  The  love  of  Jesus  does  not  stop  here. 
If  you,  my  young  friend,  become  truly  his,  it  will 
attend  you  through  all  the  seasons  of  life,  in  the 
hour  of  death,  and  into  the  eternal  world.  He 
is,  to  his  friends,  the  guide  of  youth,  and  the 
support  of  age.  Not  changeable,  like  many 
earthly  friends  ;  not  frail,  like  all.  The  same  is 
his  love  to  his  disciples  now,  as  it  was  to  those 
who  first  obeyed  his  gospel ;  for  "  he  is  the  same 
yesterday,  to-day,  and  for  ever."  He  is  the 
shepherd  of  his  flock,  and  guards  them  with  an 
ever-watchful  eye.  He  knows  their  wants,  he 
administers  to  their  comfort,  he  hears  their  pray- 
ers, and  feels  their  sorrows.  Such  is  his  feeling 
for  his  friends,  that  they  are  represented  as  his 
"  flesh  and  bones."  And  when  Paul  persecuted 
them,  he  said,  "  Why  persecutest  thou  ME  ?" 
He  proportions  their  trials  to  their  strength,  and 
says  to  each,  "My  grace  is  sufficient  for  thee." 
Nor  does  he  permit  those  trials  to  befall  the 
weak  Christian,  which  the  strong  only  could 
bear.     "  Had  I  felt,"  said  one  of  his  disciples,* 

Hfb.  xiii.  8.    John,  x.  11.      Ephes.  v.  3.     Acts,  ix.  4.     2Cor.  xii.9 
*  Richard  Baxter. 


LOVE  DEMANDED  BY  THE  LOVE  OF  CHRIST.       1  17 

*'as  strong  assaults  against  my  faith,  wliile  I  was 
young-,  as  I  have  done  since,  I  am  not  sure  it 
would  have  escaped  an  overthrow.''  He  is  the 
intercessor  for  his  people  in  his  Father's  presence, 
is  still  engaged  with  their  concerns  ;  and  is  gone 
to  prepare  mansions  for  their  reception ;  and  soon 
will  come  to  fetch  his  followers  home.  If  yoa 
are  his,  he  will  support  you  through  life,  and 
uphold  you  when  the  awful  hour  of  death  draws 
nigh.  If  you  partake  of  his  love,  having  loved 
you,  he  will  love  you  to  the  end.  Though  friends 
and  kindred,  the  nearest  and  the  dearest,  die,  the 
Christian  has  one  friend,  who  is  always  near,  and 
always  gracious  ;  and,  when  death  itself  is  past, 
will  find  the  Saviour's  love  greater  than  any 
heart  conceived. 

§  11.  Can  you  measure  the  heights  and  deptlis, 
the  lengths  and  breadths,  of  all  his  love?  It  is 
impossible.  Such  love  demands  the  return  of 
gratitude  and  love.  The  affection  and  tender- 
ness of  parents  or  friends  has  made  you  love 
them  in  return;  but  what  parents,  what  friends, 
ever  showed  so  much  concern  for  your  happiness 
as  the  Son  of  God  has  done  ?  They  have  not  left 
a  throne  in  heaven,  suffered  persecution  on 
earth,  and  died  a  painful  death  for  you :  Jesus 
only  has  done  this.  Their  kindness  bears  no 
comparison  to  his ;  and  if  theirs  wins  so  much 
of  your  affection,  does  not  his  deserve  far  more  ? 
Yet  if  you  do  not  give  yourself  to  him,  you  will 
deny  him  all  his  love  claims  from  you;  and 
would  you  do  this  ?  What  dreadful  stupidity 
they  manifest  who  pass  through  the  world  with- 
out ever  thinking  why  they  came  into  it !  And 
what  horrible  ingratitude  in  treating  with  neglect 

Heb.  iv.  14— 16.  — 1  John,  i.  2.  John,  xiv.  23. 


148  APPEAL  TO  THE  READER  01^  HIS 

the  stupendous  love  of  the  dying  Saviour !  Can 
you  offer  him  too  much,  who  gave  up  so  much 
for  you  ?  Can  you  love  him  too  much,  whose 
love  led  him  to  endure  an  afflicting  life  and  a 
tormenting  death  for  you  ?  What  an  exchange, 
my  youthful  friend,  has  he  made  with  wretched 
man !  He  bore  our  sorrows  that  we  might  share 
his  joys.  He  suffered  in  the  world  where  we 
dwell,  that  we  might  rejoice  in  his  abode.  He 
took  our  guilt,  that  we  might  partake  of  his  righ- 
teousness ;  groaned,  that  we  might  smile ;  wept, 
that  we  might  exult;  was  crowned  with  thorns, 
that  we  might  be  crowned  with  glory ;  endured 
the  bitterest  agony,  that  we  might  escape  eternal 
torments;  died,  that  we  might  live;  and  came 
from  heaven,  that  we  might  go  and  dwell  for  ever 
there.  O  then,  remember,  that  when  he  was 
agonizing  in  the  garden,  crowned  with  thorns, 
torn  with  scourges,  nailed  to  the  cross,  and  writh- 
ing in  misery  there,  that  all  this  was  on  your 
account,  and  not  his  own.  Can  you  review  his 
sufferings,  and  yet  refuse  to  yield  your  all  to 
him  ?  Does  love  to  parents,  affection  to  sisters 
or  brothers,  dwell  in  your  heart?  and  is  there  no 
room  there  for  love  to  a  far  better  friend  than  a 
thousand  earthly  relatives  united?  Can  yoa 
think  of  the  Redeemer's  goodness,  and  yet  treat 
him  with  neglect?  Would  any  one  else  do  for 
you  what  the  Lord  has  done?  Would  the  gay 
world,  that  perhaps  tempt  you  to  slight  him, 
bear  such  sufferings  for  you?  It  is  related  of 
Colonel  Gardiner,  that  at  the  time  of  his  won- 
derful conversion,  he  apprehended  that  there  was 
before  him  a  visible  representation  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  on  the  cross ;  and  he  was  impress- 
ed as  if  a  voice  had  come  to  him  to  this  effect: 


OBLIGATIONS  TO  LOVE  THE  LORD  JESUS.    149 

"O  sinner,  did  I  suffer  this  for  thee,  and  are 
these  thy  returns  !"  If  you,  my  young-  friend, 
have  hitherto  neglected  religion  and  the  Son  of 
God,  would  he  appear,  might  he  not  justly  say 
the  same  to  you  ?  Is  this  your  return  for  all 
that  love  of  his  which  these  pages  faintly  display 
to  you  ?  By  ingratitude  and  neglect  will  you  re- 
quite his  dying  love  ?  Suppose  he  were  to  ap- 
pear before  you,  and,  with  compassion  in  his 
eyes,  and  love  in  his  heart,  were  to  look  on  you, 
and  say,  "Young  sinner,  behold  these  hands, 
these  hands  endured  the  nails  for  you  ;  will  you, 
by  preferring  sin  to  me,  open  these  wounds 
again  ?  Will  you  undo  what  I  died  to  perfonn  ? 
Behold  this  side,  this  side  was  pierced  for  you ; 
will  you  pierce  it  deeper  still  by  your  neglect  ? 
Behold  tliis  head,  this  head  was  torn  by  the  thor- 
ny crown  for  you  ;  will  j'ou  add  fresh  pangs  to 
what  I  then  endured,  by  forgetting  him  who 
never  forgot  you  ?  Did  I  bear  scoffs,  the  scourge, 
the  cross,  slow  torture,  inward  and  outward  ago- 
ny, and  lingering  death  for  you;  and  are  sin  and 
neglect  your  returns  ?  O,  what  answer  could  you 
give  to  questions  like  these  ?  Surely  tears  would 
start  from  your  eyes,  remorse  tear  your  heart, 
and  confusion  cover  your  face.  And  do  you 
think  the  blessed  Jesus  endured  the  less,  or  lov- 
ed the  less,  because  he  is  not  here  to  tell  3^ou 
the  greatness  of  his  sufferings  and  his  love  ?  It 
cannot  be ;  and  will  you  then  submit  to  him  ? 
or  will  you  still  harden  your  heart  in  ingratitude 
and  neglect  ?  Perhaps,  if  you  were  to  declare 
what  has  been  your  past  treatment  of  the  gos- 
pel and  religion,  an  honest  confession  would  be, 
"I  never  thought  on  the  subject.'*  Alas,  what 
a  confession,  when  a  vast  eternity  is  at  hand  ! 


150  APPEAL  TO  T-HE  YOUNG  READER, 

But  O,  ao^ain  I  ask  you,  can  you,  will  you  thus 
requite  the  Saviour  of  the  lost  ?  Can  you  look 
on  him  afflicted,  tormented,  suspended  between 
heaven  and  earth,  defiled  with  blood,  and  sink- 
ing beneath  an  intolerable  load  of  sorrow ;  can 
you  look  back  to  Calvary,  and  continue  to  treat 
him  thus  ?  I  know  the  world  tempts  you  to  do 
so ;  but  will  you  let  the  world  prevail  ?  Did  he 
leave  heaven  and  the  brightest  throne  in  glory  to 
encounter  such  horrors  for  you ;  and  will  you  not 
give  up,  what  the  vain  world  can  offer,  for  him  ? 
Let  it  do  its  best;  were  its  riches,  pleasures, 
honours,  yours,  are  these  things  better  than  the 
heaven  to  which  Jesus  fain  would  lead  you? 
He  came  to  save  the  lost ;  will  you  refuse  to  let 
him  save  you  ?  The  graves  opened  and  the  rocks 
rent  at  his  crucifixion  ;  shall  graves  open  sooner 
than  your  heart  ?  and  even  rocks  be  softer  ? 
Were  you  to  see  a  beloved  friend  ascend  a  scaf- 
fold on  your  account,  then  see  his  lifeless  body 
bleeding,  the  eyes  "  that  loved  to  look  on  you" 
closed  in  death,  and  all  this  for  you,  and  in  your 
place;  you  could  not  be  unaffected.  Again,  I 
remind  you,  that  for  you  your  injured  Lord 
bled,  and  bled  not  by  a  sudden,  but  a  lingering 
death  ;  and  can  you  remain  unaffected,  because 
you  see  not  the  mournful  spectacle,  when  you 
know  that  it  was  once  seen,  till  heaven,  indignant 
heaven,  turned  the  day  to  darkness^  and  hid  the 
bleeding  Saviour  ?  L^nless  you  turn  to  him,  as 
far  as  you  are  concerned,  all  this  will  be  in  vain. 
As  to  you,  it  will  be  in  vain  that  he  came  from 
heaven,  and  became  the  poor  man  of  sorrows. 
As  to  you,  it  will  be  in  vain  that  his  hands,  his 
feet,  his  side  were  pierced,  and  that  he  became 
the  sufferer  of  the  cross,  the  victim  of  death.     O, 


AND  WARNTNO.  151 

lot  liim  not  have  to  say  to  you,  ''  Yo7i  icill  not 
come  fo  me  that  you  miyht  have  Ufe^  Flee  to  him 
for  salvalion.  O,  give  him  your  youth.  Trust 
him  witli  your  soul.  Make  him  your  all  in  all ; 
and  in  him  be  blessed  for  time  and  eternity. 
But  if  you  refuse  to  do  tliis,  if  you  continue  to 
slight  his  love,  and  to  deny  him  all  that  such 
goodness  claims ;  then,  young  sinner,  expect  here- 
after no  gentle  flames,  no  tolerable  damnation  : 
for  know,  that  the  deepest  and  most  wretched 
hell  will  not  be  more  wretched  than  such  iniqui- 
ty will  deserve.  Your  sin  will  be  nothing  less 
than  preferring  Satan,  who  tries  every  method 
in  his  power  for  your  destruction,  to  that  blessed 
Friend  who  bore  such  sorrow  for  you.  You 
will  be  covered  with  a  load  of  ingratitude,  black- 
er, in  one  respect,  than  that  which  sunk  the  devil 
and  his  angels  to  the  lake  of  fire  ;  they  sinned 
against  a  gracious  God,  but,  if  you  continue  to 
slight  the  gospel,  you  will  sin  against  a  gracious 
God,  and  a  suffering  Saviour  too.  Even  devils 
themselves  may  then  rise  up  in  the  judgment  to 
condemn  you;  and  to  declare  those  who  could  be 
insensible  to  such  goodness,  and  indifferent  to 
such  a  friend,  in  this  respect  at  least,  more  hor- 
ribly wicked  than  themselves. 

12.  PRAYER  FOR  THOSE  YOrTHFUL  READERS,  TVHO, 
FEELING  THE  GREATNESS  OF  DIVINE  LOVE,  DESIRE 
TO  BE  THE   lord's. 

Compassionate  Lord,  what  miracles  of  love 
,'iast  thou  displayed !  How  beautiful  are  thy 
works !  how  great  the  wonders  of  thy  power !  but 
O,  in  the  gospel,  how  much  greater  are  the  won- 
ders of  thy  love  !  How  numerous  are  those  mer- 
cies, which  hourly  come  from  tliee;  but,  O  how 


152       PRAYER  TO  KNOW  THE  LOVE, 

much  the  gift  of  thy  Son  surpasses  them  all ! 
Amazing-  love!  that  thou  shouldst  give  such  a 
gift  to  such  a  world.  O,  let  this  love  fill  all  my 
heart,  and  engage  all  I  am  and  have  to  thee !  O, 
let  me  view  it  as  manifested  to  me,  a  sinner! 
With  wonder  and  gratitude,  may  I  look  on  Jesus, 
as  given  by  thee,  to  snatch  even  me  from  perdition ; 
and  may  I  be  sweetly  constrained  to  yield  up 
myself,  body,  soul,  and  spirit  unto  thee.  O  my 
God,  poor  are  my  praises,  cold  is  my  gratitude. 
I  owe  thee  more  for  the  gift  of  Jesus,  than  mil- 
lions of  tongues  could  utter,  or  millions  of  years 
declare.  I  would  lie  abased  before  thee,  for  hav- 
ing oftered  thee  so  little.  Oh  my  injured  God! 
my  forgotten  Saviour  !  my  neglected  soul !  Had 
I  ten  thousand  hearts,  thy  love  demands  them 
all ;  yet  much  of  my  life  has  passed,  and  angels 
and  men  have  seen  me  denying  thee  this  one,  poor 
unworthy  heart.  Great  God,  could  I  feel  the 
evil  of  such  sin  aright,  this  heart  would  burst  with 
sorrow,  and  these  eyes  would  weep  till  death 
stopped  the  flowing  tears ;  but,  imperfect  in  ev- 
ery tiling,  T  am  imperfect  in  my  penitence.  Yet 
let  me  feel  so  much  as  shall  lead  me  to  abhor 
myself  for  past  ingratitude :  and  cold  as  is  my 
heart,  so  far  at  least  may  it  glow  with  love,  as 
shall  lead  me  to  lie  cheerfully  at  thy  feet,  seek- 
mg  all  my  good  in  thee.  Farewell,  earth  !  fare- 
well, all  the  allurements  of  a  dying  world  !  my 
God  demands  my  heart;  my  God  shall  have  it. 
And,  O  thou  blessed  Lord,  form  me  according  to 
thy  will,  and  make  me,  in  some  good  measure, 
holy,  harmless,  humble,  undefiled,  and  separate 
from  sinners.  Guide  me  by  thy  counsel,  and  af- 
terwards receive  me  to  glory. 

And,  O  thou  compassionate   Saviour,   what 


AND  ENJOY  THE  FAVOUR  OF  CHRIST.  153 

praises,  what  gratitude  I  owe  to  thee!  Why 
didst  thou  stoop  beneath  the  grave,  to  save  a 
sinking  world !  Why  pass  by  sinful  angels  to  vi- 
sit sinful  men !  Why  raise  man  to  the  heaven 
he  never  enjoyed,  and  not  restore  them  to  the 
heaven  they  lost !  Why  sink  so  low,  to  raise  us 
so  high  !  Why  suffer  for  such  a  worm  as  I  ! 
Even  so,  Lord,  for  so  it  seemed  good  in  thy  sight. 
Blessed  Jesus,  thy  divine  goodness  undertook, 
thy  power  performed  this  miracle  of  miracles, 
this  more  than  wonder.  No  merits  didst  thou 
see  in  man.  None  wilt  thou  ever  see.  Never 
can  we  repay  the  debt  of  gratitude.  Never  love 
thee  half  enough.  O  gracious  Saviour!  O  divine 
sacrifice  !  thou  didst  bleed,  didst  bleed  for  me  ; 
didst  come  to  wash  away  my  stains  ;  to  seek  and 
save  me  who  was  lost.  J  ^et  me  live  to  thee ;  and 
in  my  life  adorn  thy  gospel  and  glorify  thy 
name.  Let  me  die  to  thee  ;  die  With  an  assur- 
ance that  I  am  thine  ;  die,  saying  in  my  last 
hour,  Beloved  Saviour,  through  thy  merits  and 
thy  death,  a  poor  polluted  worm,  deserving  hell, 
ascends  to  heaven.     Amen. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

EARLY  PIETi'  PECULIARLY  ACCEPTABLE  TO  GOD,  ANT 
PECULIARLY  HONOURED  BY  HIM. 

§  1.  The  affection  of  earthly  relatives  and 
friends,  you  doubtless  esteem  of  much  im- 
portance to  your  happiness  ;  but  there  is  one  in- 
finitely greater  Friend,  whose  approbation  is  of 
more  consequence,  than  that  of  all  eartlily  friends 
united.      The  King  of  kings  deigns  to   lei^ard 

5* 


154       NO  WORLDLY  INTEREST  IMPORTANT  LONG. 

early  piety  as  peculiarly  acceptable  to  himself, 
and  this  is  a  weighty  reason  for  its  choice.  If 
then  you  would  be  happy  here,  and  happy  for 
ever,  useful  on  earth,  and  glorified  in  heaven,  T 
beseech  you  to  make  this  blessing  yours.  I  be- 
seech you  to  remember,  that  the  esteem  and 
love  of  mortal  friends,  if  obtained  in  youth, 
and  enjoyed  through  following  years,  and  if  ev- 
er so  important  for  all  the  term  of  life,  will  sink 
into  insignificancy  itself,  when  death  shall  dis- 
lodge your  soul  from  its  feeble  habitation,  and 
eternity  receive  you  to  its  endless  abodes.  But 
to  possess  that  early  acquaintance  with  Christ, 
that  early  piety,  which  is  peculiarly  pleasing  to 
God,  will  most  nearly  concern  you,  long  after 
you  have  done  with  the  world ;  long  after  not  one 
trace  of  you  or  yours  remains  on  earth  ;  long  af- 
ter the  shroud,  that  dress  of  the  grave,  and  the 
coflfin,  that  dwelling  of  the  dead,  are  mixed  and 
lost  in  the  dust  that  covers  them ;  Jong  after  the 
graves  have  given  up  their  dead,  and  the  Judge 
fixed  their  eternal  doom.  Tell  me,  my  young 
friend,  of  that  worldly  concern,  which  will  be  of 
any  importance  to  you,  when  the  year  2000 
comes.  Alas  !  you  cannot.  The  world  then  as 
now,  may  be  gay  and  thoughtless;  but  to  you, 
long,  long,  long  ere  that  period  comes,  there  will 
not  remain  one  bitter  dreg  of  any  worldly  sor- 
row, nor  one  pleasing  memorial  of  any  worldly 
joy.  The  sun  will  shine  as  brightly  then  for 
others,  the  earth  be  as  gaily  dressed  for  them  as 
now  for  you ;  but  long  ere  that  time  arrives, 
those  who  are  in  vigorous  youth  or  decre- 
pid  age,  will  be  mixed  in  the  same  dust.  The 
clods  of  the  valley,  almost  for  ages,  will  have  cov- 
ered both,  alike  forgetful  of  a  busy  or  a  pleasura- 


RELIGION  ACCEPTABLE  TO  GOD.  155 

ble  world.  The  grass  of  the  field,  for  years  and 
years,  will  have  flourished  and  faded  about  the 
spot  where  you  and  I  shall  lie.  O  vain,  and  pass- 
ing world  I  how  wretchedly  are  that  youth,  and 
health,  and  strength,  misemployed,  which  are 
employed  for  thee  !  Seek,  my  young  friend,  a 
better  portion  than  such  a  world  can  give.  Pur- 
sue his  favour,  whose  favour  will  be  found  better 
than  life,  when  the  world  itself  has  passed  away 
like  a  shadow,  that  vanishes  when  the  sun  goes 
down. 

§  2.  Religion  in  any  situation,  or  in  persons 
of  any  age,  is  acceptable  in  the  sight  of  the  Most 
High,  and  is  deemed  true  wisdom  by  him.  Higj 
word  declares,  "The  fear  of  the  Lord  is  the  begin, 
ning  of  wisdom  ;  a  good  uhderstanding  have  all 
they  that  do  his  commandments.''  A  person 
maybe  poor,  ignorant,  mean,  and  of  small  capaci- 
ty; yet,  if  guided  by  the  counsel  of  God,  this  poor 
unlettered  man  shall  be  esteemed  by  his  Maker, 
as  wise  and  of  good  understanding  :  another  may 
be  great  and  noble,  skilful  in  all  knowledge,  able 
to  discourse  in  many  languages,  and  the  world 
may  be  astonished  at  his  talents ;  yet,  because  he 
knows  not  true  piety,  God  would  pronounce  him 
a  fool,  a  man  of  no  understanding.  So  precious 
is  true  piety  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord. 

But  while  piety  in  any  situation  or  age,  is 
pleasing  to  the  INIost  High,  yet  learn  from  the  di- 
vine word,  that  youtliful  piety  has  peculiar 
charms.  No  sight  upon  earth  is  more  lovely, 
than  to  see  young  persons  in  the  very  bloom  of 
life  devoting  themselves  to  the  Saviour,  who  died 
for  them,  and  ornamenting  his  religion  by  giving 
it  their  best  years.  Religion  may  be  regarded  by 
the  aged  convert  from  sin  and  folly;  but  it  must 


156      EARLY  PIETY  PECULIARLY  ACCEPTABLE 

be  honoured  by  the  young,  or  by  those  who  were 
religious  in  the  prime  of  their  days.  Early  pie- 
ty is  peculiarly  pleasing  to  the  blessed  Jesus. 
One  of  the  last  commands  he  gave  to  Peter,  was, 
"Feed  my  lambs."  The  apostle  John  was  his 
young  disciple,  but  he  was  "the  disciple  whom 
Jesus  loved."  The  case  of  the  young  ruler  also 
in  this  view  deserves  attention.  Excepting  the 
apostles,  he  is  the  only  person  expressly  men- 
tioned in  the  New  Testament  as  young  who  went 
to  our  Lord  to  inquire  the  way  to  heaven.  He 
was  a  stranger  to  the  Lord,  and  yet  more  is  said 
of  him,  than  of  whole  multitudes  besides ;  for  of 
him  it  is  said,  that  "Jesus  loved  him."  And 
though  the  Lord,  notwithstanding  all  he  saw^  so 
pleasing  in  him,  aftervVards  spoke  of  him  as  a  per- 
ishing sinner;  yet  even  his  want  of  real  piety 
may  show  you  how  that  blessing  is  valued  by 
the  Lord  Jesus  when  possessed  by  the  young. 
If,  though  not  truly  a  child  of  God,  the  Lord  was 
so  much  taken  with  him,  how  much  more  would 
he  have  won  on  Christ's  affection,  if  to  every 
other  recommendation  had  been  added,  true  pi- 
ety ! 


That  last  and  best. 


Which  more  than  doubles  all  the  rest." 

A  parent  may  be  pleased  with  anothei'^s  child, 
but  is  more  pleased  with  his  own  ;  and  the  Lord, 
who  beholding  that  young  man  loved  him,  would 
doubtless  have  loved  him  more,  if  he  had  been 
his  own  disciple.  Ah  !  had  he  listened  to  the 
call  of  Jesus,  how  high  a  place  might  he  have 
possessed  in  his  Redeemer's  heart !  Perhaps,  the 
very  first;  for  not  even  of  the  apostles  them- 
selves,  is  so  much   said   of  the   Lord's  loving 


AND  MOST  HONOURED  BY  GOD.  157 

them,  before  they  became  his  disciples,  as  is  said 
of  his  love  to  this  young  man. 

§  3.  The  marked  and  honourable  distinction 
which  God  has  placed  on  /early  piety,  strikingly 
shows  how  peculiarly  acceptable  it  is  to  him. 
He  has  made  few,  except  those  converted  in  ear- 
ly life,  instruments  of  advancing,  to  any  consid- 
erable degree,  his  glory  upon  earth.  Late  con- 
verts have  generally  crept,  as  it  were,  singly  into 
heaven  ;  while  many  converted  young  have  been 
employed  by  God,  to  lead  their  friends,  their 
children,  or  many  others  to  the  abodes  of  bliss. 
As  by  early  piety  the  young  peculiarly  honour 
God ;  so  he  condescends,  in  return,  peculiarly  to 
honour  them.  Run  over  the  list  of  names,  which 
God  has  so  honourably  distinguished  in  his 
word,  and  observe  they  were  converted  while 
young.  Abel,  the  first  of  martyrs,  sought  God 
in  his  youth.  Enoch,  celebrated  for  so  glorious 
a  translation  to  heaven,  was  removed  thither, 
when  (considering  the  length  of  life  at  that  pe- 
riod) a  young  man.  Noah,  the  father  of  a  se- 
cond world,  when  young  served  the  God  of 
heaven.  Abraham,  pronounced  the  father  of  the 
faithful,  and  the  friend  of  God,  while  young  set 
out  for  the  heavenly  country.  Moses,  who  was 
faithful  in  the  Lord's  house,  in  his  youth  refused 
to  be  called  the  son  of  Pharaoh's  daughter,  and 
counted  the  reproach  of  Christ  greater  riches  than 
the  treasures  of  Egypt.  Joshua,  who  made  the 
noble  resolution,  "  as  for  me  and  my  house,  ive  ivill 
serve  the  Lord,"  had  made  the  same,  long,  long 
before.  Samuel,  that  much  honoured  prophet, 
when  yet  a  child,  said  to  the  Lord,  "  Speak,  for 
thy  servant  heareth."  Job,  distinguished  for  his 
patience  and  his  piety,  was  pious  in  his  eailv 

5"* 


158  EMINENT  SAINTS  GENERALLY 

life.  Elijah,  who  was  conveyed  in  a  fiery  cha- 
riot to  glory,  was,  most  probably,  the  servant  of 
God  in  his  youth.  Elisha,  on  whom  his  spirit 
rested,  seems  to  have  given  himself  to  God  be- 
times. Isaiah,  the  sweetest  herald  of  the  Sa- 
viour's approach,  while  young  became  the  pro- 
phet of  the  Lord  ;  so  too  did  Ezekiel  and  Jere- 
miah. Daniel,  who  walked  with  God  even  in 
Babylon  itself,  and  who  found  his  God  his  pro- 
tector even  in  the  lions'  den,  had  sought  his  God 
in  his  early  days.  Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abed- 
nego,  whom  God  so  honoured,  that  they  passed 
unhurt  through  the  burning  fiery  furnace,  were 
all  pious  in  their  youth.  Passing  by  others,  we 
come  down  to  the  Redeemer's  days.  Then  John 
the  Baptist,  the  great  forerunner  of  the  Lord,  in 
early  life  began  to  deliver  the  message  of  his 
God.  The  apostles  of  the  Lord  and  Saviour, 
there  is  much  reason  to  believe,  were  converted 
young.  Thus  was  Peter ;  thus  was  James.  Paul, 
once  a  persecutor,  then  an  apostle  and  martyr, 
was  a  young  man  when  brought  to  the  know- 
ledge of  the  Son  of  God.  So,  loo,  was  John,  the 
beloved  disciple ;  so  too  most  probably  all  that 
illustrious  company.  Timothy  and  Titus  were 
young,  but  faithful  followers  of  the  Lord  ;  and, 
as  if  to  show  that  in  youth  God  should  be  glo- 
rified, the  Son  of  God  himself  came  into  the 
world,  accomplished  his  great  errand  in  it,  and 
returned  to  his  Father's  bosom,  when  he  had 
spent  little  more  than  three-and-thirty  years  up. 
on  its  surface.  If  we  turn  to  some  female  cha- 
racters, which  the  scriptures  commend  to  our  re- 
spect  and  imitation,  still  will  the  same  observa 
tion  hold.  Mary,  whom,  as  the  mother  of  our 
Lord,   all  generations  shall   call  blessed     hat) 


CONVERTED  WHILE  YOUNO.  159 

doubtless  given  her  youth  to  God.  Mary,  who 
sat  at  Jesus's  feet,  and  heard  his  word,  who  pos- 
sessed that  good  part  which  none  could  take  from 
her,  appears  to  have  early  chosen  that  one  thing 
needful.^  If  we  come  to  later  times,  still  God 
seems,  almost  invariably,  to  have  acted  by  the 
same  rule,  and  seldom  to  have  conferred  distin- 
guished honour,  except  on  early  piety.  Baxter 
and  Owen,  Doddridge  and  Watts,  Wesley  and 
Whitfield,  and  hundreds  more,  that  were  in  their 
day  employed  to  lead  thousands  to  heaven,  were 
all  converted  young.  Almost,  if  not  quite,  every 
living  or  departed  missionary  sought  God 
in  the  days  of  youth.  Carey  and  Ward,  Brai- 
nerd  and  Elliot,  Schwartz  and  Martyn,  in  youth 
were  brought  into  the  ways  of  peace.  Thus  also 
have  the  most  eminently  distinguished  women. 
Lady  Jane  Gray,  and  Queen  Mary  the  Second, 
the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,  who  from  a  com- 
paratively small  fortune  is  said  to  have  employ- 

•  In  proof  of  the  youth  of  some  of  these  persons,  observe,  Ahel  was 
dead  before  the  birth  of  Seth,  which  took  place  when  Adam  was  bi;t 
130  years  old.  Noah  is  spoken  of  as  a  just  man,  who  wifiked  witli  God 
before  the  birth  of  any  of  his  children,  and  Shem  was  born  4.j(>  years 
before  his  death.  Abraham,  when  at  God's  command  he  left  Huran, 
was  7.5  years  old,  which  bears  the  same  proportion  to  his  age,  as  30 
would  bear  to  the  age  of  man  in  the  present  day.  See  respecting  M  j- 
ses,  Heb.  xi.  24.  Joshua,  see  Exod.  xxiv.  13;  xxxiii.  11.  &c.  &c. 
Samuel,  see  1  Sam.  chap.  iii.  Job,  see  Job.  i.  1 ;  xliii.  16.  Of  Elijah's 
age,  but  little  is  said.  Elisha  seems  to  have  been  a  young  man,  I 
Kings,  xix.  20.  Isaiah,  the  least  possible  term  for  the  duration  of  his 
prophetical  office,  is  48  years;  (see  Lowth's  Isaiah,  Isote  1.)  and  life 
being  then  about  the  present  length,  he  appears  to  have  entered  while 
young  on  that  office.  Jeremiah  exercised  his  prophetical  functions 
at  least  42  years,  and  seems  to  have  been  called  veij  young  to  it.  See 
Blaney's  Jeremiah,  Note  1,  and  Jer.  i.  6.  Ezekiel,  see  Preface  to  New 
comes  Ezekiel.  Daniel,  Shadrach,  &c.  see  Daniel,  chap.  1.  James, 
Peter,  &c.  See  Doddridge's  Remarks  on  the  time  when  their  Epistles 
were  written  ;  from  their  age  at  that  time,  it  is  easily  inferred,  that 
they  were  young  when  called  by  Christ.  Paul,  see  Acts,  vii.  5y.  Ma- 
rj',  the  mother  of  Christ,  see  Luke's  Gospel,  chap.  2.  Mary  of  Betha- 
ny, from  the  circumstances  recorded  respecting  her,  and  from  what 
ancient  history  says  of  her  brother  Lazarus,  seems  must  probably  to 
Lave  V»een  a  young  woman. 


160         EARLY  PIETY  PECULIARLY  ACCEPTABLE, 

ed  nearly  a  hundred  thousand  pounds  on  reli- 
gious objects ;  the  Countess  of  Suffolk,  whose 
piety  has  often  been  displayed  for  the  imitation 
of  others,  and  many  more ;  the  lovely  Harriet 
Newell^  and  others  who  like  her  have  trod  the 
missionary  path,  have  all  displayed  the  charms 
and  obtained  the  honours  of  early  piety.  When 
God,  my  young  friend,  has  thus  distinguished 
youthful  religion,  while  he  has  set  such  honour 
upon  it,  would  you  neglect  it  ?  Would  you  de- 
lay to  seek  it?  Rather,  I  beseech  you,  yield 
yourself  a  living  sacrifice  to  him  who  says, 
"  They  that  seek  vie  early  shall  find  we." 

§  4.  We  may  discern  various  reasons  why  the 
blessed  Saviour  should  have  a  peculiar  fondness 
for  his  young  disciples  ;  and  why  the  Most  High 
should  take  early  religion  as  a  mark  of  regard  to 
himself,  that  he  will  distinguish  with  particular 
approbation  at  another  day ;  that  day  when  all 
the  dear  delusions  and  gay  vanities  of  this  world 
will  appear  wretched  vanities  indeed.  One  of 
these  is  the  decided  affection  to  the  Lord  which 
early  piety  displays.  You  suppose  they  love  you 
most,  who  are  ready  to  do  the  most  for  you  ;  and 
depend  upon  it,  the  blessed  Jesus  judges  by  a 
similar  rule.  Those  who  are  most  willing  to  ho- 
nour him,  and  give  him  most,  show  mostaffection. 
Now  early  piety  is  the  best  proof  of  this  kind 
which  you  can  offer.  If  in  God's  strength  you 
resolve  that  the  Lord  shall  have  those  blooming 
years,  which  others  spend  in  sin  and  folly,  this 
will  manifest  the  most  decided  preference  for 
him.  "  I  love  my  Saviour  much,"  may  be  said 
by  one  converted  in  old  age ;  but  "  I  have  hum- 
bly proved  I  love  him  much,"  is  a  declaration 
that  must  be  left  to  those  converted  in  youth. 


AS  DISPLAYING  MOST  I>OVE  TO  CHRIST.        IGl 

They  do  not  give  their  Lord  merely  the  even- 
ing of  a  day,  Avhose  best  hours  have  been  devo- 
ted to  folly  and  to  sin,  but  present  him  a  better 
offering  than  it  would  ever  otherwise  be  in  their 
power  to  make.  As  the  blooming  spring  is  the 
loveliest  season  of  the  year,  so  is  youth  of  mortal 
life.  It  is  the  season  in  which  those  graces 
should  be  implanted  in  your  heart  which  may 
bring  forth  fruit  to  the  glory  of  God.  It  is  the 
season  for  activity  and  vigour ;  the  time  in  which 
you  might  do  much  for  God.  AYhile  your  mind 
is  not  distracted  with  cares,  nor  your  body  worn 
with  intirmities,  nor  your  affections  chilled  by 
age ;  but  while  health,  and  cheerfulness,  and  all 
the  vigour  of  life  are  yours,  is  the  season  in 
which  to  make  the  best  offering  to  your  God. 
God,  when  he  ordained  sacrifices  of  old,  ordered 
that  none  which  were  blemished,  should  be  pre- 
sented to  himself.  The  creatures  offered  were 
to  be  the  most  perfect  and  vigorous  of  their 
kind  ;  and  he  reproved  those  who  brought  infe- 
rior ones.  So,  my  young  friend,  before  your 
soul  is  loaded  with  the  black  crimes  of  many  un- 
grateful and  wicked  years;  before  your  powers 
are  enfeebled  with  the  infirmities  of  old  age ;  devote 
yourself  rt  living  sacrijice  to  God.  God,  it  is  said, 
loveth  a  cheerful  giver.  If  this  is  true,  where  gifts 
of  much  inferior  value  are  concerned,  depend 
upon  it,  that  it  is  so  in  the  present  case.  The 
Lord  loves  the  cheerful  offering  which  the  young 
make  of  themselves  to  him,  in  the  bloom  and  vi- 
gour of  their  days,  better  than  the  offering  of  a 
few  sad  dregs  of  life,  which  is  wrung,  as  it  were, 
from  the  aged  and  infirm.  "  He  that  soweth 
sparingly  shall  reap  also  sparingly ;  and  he  that 

I.ev.  lii.  1,  6,  &0.  Mai.  i.  8,  &c.  2  Cvr.  ix.  7. 

5*** 


162  EARLY  PIETY  DISPLAYS 

sov/eth  bountifully  shall  reap  also  bountifully." 
They  that  yield  the  most  to  God,  shall,  through 
his  abounding  grace,  reap  the  most  bountiful 
harvest  of  glory  and  joy  ;  but  who  sow  so  boun- 
tifully as  they  who  forsake  the  world  while 
young,  and  then  offer  to  God  all  they  have  and 
are  ?  The  affection  of  the  young  also  is  com- 
monly the  most  fervent;  it  glows  with  a  strong- 
er flame  than  that  of  age:  and  the  young  follow- 
ers of  the  Lord  resign  their  hearts  to  the  impres- 
sions of  his  love,  w  hen  most  capable  of  loving 
him  in  return.  They  love  him  soonest ;  and  are 
Mve  to  wonder  if  he  loves  them  best?  Some,  like 
Manasseh,  after  long  years  of  rebellion,  are  driv- 
en by  a  heavy  rod  to  penitence,  and  they  are  wel- 
come; but  where  is  the  late  penitence  of  Ma- 
nasseh celebrated,  as  equally  acceptable  to  God 
with  the  early  piety  of  Abijah,  Josiah,  Timothy, 
or  John  ?  Abijah  God  took  to  himself;  because 
in  him  only  ivas  found  some  good  towards  the  Lord 
God  of  Israel,  in  the  house  of  Jeroboam.  Josiah 
did  right  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord;  and  God  heard 
his  prayers,  and  promised  that  he  should  not  see 
the  evils  which  were  about  to  overwhelm  his 
wicked  country.  Over  Timothy  Paul  rejoiced 
as  his  beloved  son  in  the  faith ;  and  John  lean- 
ed on  the  bosom  of  Jesus.  He  loves  all  who 
humbly  love  him,  but  those  best,  who,  beginning 
soonest,  love  him  most.  If  you  would  be  truly 
pious,  apply  to  God  for  grace  to  be  so  betimes. 
If  you  would  have  your  piety  peculiarly  plea- 
sing to  the  Lord,  let  it  be  the  piety,  the  kindness 
of  your  youth.  Would  you  thank  any  one  lo 
offer  you  a  shell  without  the  kernel  ?  or  a  stalk, 
when  the  flower  were  withered  ?  or  dross  when 

2  Cor.  ix.  6. 


MOST  LOVE  AND  GRATITUDE  TO  CHRIST.      103 

the  gold  were  gone  ?  ana  would  you  offer  to  the 
Lord  the  poor  remains  of  a  life,  spent  in  the 
service  of  Satan  ?  and  after  having  wasted  your 
youth,  your  health,  your  strength,  your  prime, 
would  you  give  to  Christ  tlie  leavings  of  the  de- 
vil ?  O,  act  not  so  base  a  part!  But  if  you 
would  be  pious,  be  so  in  these  your  early  days  ! 
Then  will  they  be  your  best  days.  Every  year 
that  departs  will  bring  on  a  happier;  and  the 
last  will  be  the  happiest  of  all,  because  the  last 
will  land  you  in  that  world,  where  there  is  no- 
thing but  happiness. 

§  5.  Early  piety  is  also  peculiarly  acceptable, 
as  it  not  merely  shows  the  truest  love  to  Christ, 
but  manifests  most  gratitude  for  the  boundless 
love  of  God.  His  love  calls  for  thankfulness 
more  fervent  than  any  imagination  can  conceive 
or  tongue  express ;  but,  by  devoting  your  youth 
to  him,  you  may  give  the  best  expression  of  gra- 
titude in  your  power.  You  may  say,  "  Great 
God,  I  owe  thee  more  than  it  is  in  my  power  to 
conceive,  much  less  to  declare.  I  have  no  way 
of  testifying  gratitude  equal  to  my  obligations ; 
but  help  me  to  show  all  the  thankfulness  I  can. 
The  warmest  will  be  cold  ;  the  most  will  be  lit- 
tle :  but  such  as  I  am  take  me,  and  by  tiie  of- 
fering of  my  youtli  may  T  show  that  I  am  thank- 
ful, though  I  can  never  be  thankful  enough."  It 
has  been  said,  that  in  the  war  which  divided  the 
United  States  of  America  from  England,  a  Bri- 
tish commissioner  offered  a  great  bribe  to  Mr. 
Reid,  an  American  agent,  and  that  he  answered, 
"  I  am  not  worth  purchasing  ;  but  such  as  I  am 
the  king  of  Great  Britain  is  not  rich  enough  to 
do  it."  My  young  friend,  be  assured,  it  will  be 
an  acceptable  token  of  your  gratitude  to  God,  i^ 


164       EARLY  PIETY  PECULIARLY  ACCEPT ABLB, 

you  treat  the  world  as  he  treated  the  British  com- 
missioner. Say  to  it,  "  Begone,  vain  world  ;  I 
am  a  poor  insig-nificant  creature,  but  such  as  I 
am,  thou  art  not  rich  enough  to  buy  me  from  my 
God ;  I  owe  him  such  a  debt  as  I  shall  never 
through  eternity  discharge,  but  what  little  I  can 
offer  him,  that  litde  with  his  help  I  will." 

By  early  piety,  you  would  also  avoid  adding 
to  that  load  of  ingratitude,  which  a  continuance 
in  sin  would  occasion.  You  would  grieve  the 
Holy  Spirit  less :  alas  !  you  have  grieved  him 
too  much  already.  You  would  resist  fewer  of  his 
calls  :  alas  !  you  have  resisted  too  many  already. 
Supposing,  which  most  likely  would  not  be  the 
case,  but  even  supposing,  that  God  should  spare 
you,  and  his  Spirit  lead  you  to  repentance  twen- 
ty years  hence  ;  yet  must  it  not  be  more  pleasing 
to  the  blessed  God,  to  see  you  now  humbled  as 
a  penitent  at  the  Saviour's  feet,  than  to  see  you 
there,  after  resisting  his  Spirit,  and  adding  in- 
gratitude to  ingratitude,  through  twenty  more 
rebellious  years  of  sin  ?  O,  then  while  you  have 
the  power  of  showing  some  humble  thankfulness 
to  God  ;  while  you  may  avoid  a  load  of  base  in- 
gratitude ;  while  you  have  resisted  fewer  calls, 
and  grieved  the  Holy  Spirit  less  than  you  would 
otherwise  do  :  be  truly  wise  and  make  your  God 
your  iriend. 

§  6.  Another  circumstance  that  may  render 
early  piety  peculiarly  acceptable  is,  its  rareness ; 
for  though  most  that  come  to  Christ  come  to  him 
in  youth,  yet  small  is  their  number  compared 
with  the  multitudes  that  are  strangers  to  the  grace 
of  God.  Among  the  great,  how  many  families 
are  there  in  which  not  one  true  Christian  is  to  be 
found  !   among  the  poor  the  case  is  the  same. 


BECAUSE  FEW  ARE  PIOUS.  165 

Look  at  the  factories  and  mills,  where  twenty, 
thirty,  forty,  or  even  hundreds  are  employed ; 
and  among  scores,  perha)3s  but  one  or  two  will 
be  found,  that  sincerely  love  and  follow  Christ. 
True  religion  was  never  in  fashion  upon  earth. 
In  youth,  even  when  free  from  what  the  world 
calls  vice,  there  is  often  little  to  be  seen  besides 
pride,  vanity,  and  folly.  That  fair  morning  of 
life,  which  a  few  happily  improve  for  the  glory  of 
God  and  their  own  eternal  welfare,  most  spend, 
as  if  religion  were  no  concern  of  theirs ;  as  if 
they  had  no  soul  to  save,  no  death  to  fear,  no 
heaven  to  seek,  no  hell  to  escape.  Many  young 
followers  of  Christ  have  done  their  business  for 
eternity,  before  others,  their  equals  in  age,  began 
theirs  for  time;  and  have  been  ripe  for  an 
eternal  weight  of  glory,  before  others  began  to 
think  of  everlasting  things.  Thus  the  rareness 
of  early  religion  may  well  make  it  peculiarly 
pleasing  in  tlie  sight  of  the  blessed  Jesus.  He 
sees  the  greater  part  of  the  young  utterly  care- 
less of  his  dying  love,  or  even  treating  religion 
as  a  thing  unsuitable  to  youthful  gaiety  ;  but  he 
beholds  a  few,  that  are  offering  him  their  best 
years ;  and  he  beholds  them  with  pleasure,  and 
will  remember  the  kindness  of  their  youth.  He 
who  will  remember  even  a  cup  of  cold  ivnter  giv- 
en to  a  disciple  out  of  love  to  himself,  will  never 
forget  the  humble  resolutions  of  that  young  dis- 
ciple who  says  to  him,  "  Blessed  Redeemer,  I 
would  be  more  thy  friend  ;  because  thou  hast  so 
few  that  are  thy  friends  at  all.  Few  offer  thee 
any  of  their  time;  so  T  would  offer  thee  all  the 
rest  of  mine.  Few  show  any  gratitude  for  thy 
living  kindness,  or  thy  dying  love ;  but,  O  thou 
compassionate  Saviour !  take  my  youngest  and 


1C6      £ARLY  PIETY  PECULIARLY  ACCEPTABLE. 

best  years,  that  thou  mayest  have  all  my  life, 
since  thou  hast  none  of  theirs." 

§  7.  Early  religion  has  frequently  to  surmount 
many  discouragements^  which  may  render  it 
more  acceptable  to  him,  who  tries  in  various 
ways  the  faith  of  his  disciples.  It  is  pleasing 
to  him  to  see  his  young  followers  overcoming 
the  world,  and  pressing  onwards  to  heaven  in 
spite  of  all  that  is  done  to  hinder  them.  Young 
persons  are  most  apt  to  be  taken  with  the  follies 
and  vanities  of  the  world.  Its  theatres,  novels, 
romances,  and  other  time-wasting  and  sinful 
pleasures,  have  frequently  more  charms  for  them 
than  for  those  of  riper  years ;  and  by  them  its 
laugh  is  often  more  dreaded.  This,  those  who 
will  be  seriously  religious,  must  not  always  ex- 
pect to  escape.  Ridicule  is  one  of  Satan's  grand 
weapons ;  when  his  servants  cannot  persuade 
others  out  of  religion,  they  try  to  laugh  them 
out  of  it :  so  that  we  need  not  be  surprised,  if 
we  hear  true  religion  ridiculed  as  fanaticism, 
enthusiasm,  unnecessary  preciseness,  or  cant- 
ing hypocrisy.  But  to  take  up  a  despised  cause ; 
in  the  face  of  an  irreligious  world,  to  choose  re- 
ligion; to  scorn  alike  the  laugh  or  frown  of 
men ;  and,  in  defiance  of  all  discouragements 
from  earth  or  hell,  to  give  your  youth  to  God, 
and  glory  in  the  cross  of  Christ :  this  is  pleas- 
ing in  the  sight  of  the  Lord.  Far  would  I  be 
from  insinuating,  that  this  is  meritorious  in  his 
view.  No,  if  you  do  this  and  ten  thousand  times 
more,  you  will  still  be  an  unprofitable  servant; 
still,  as  one  of  the  chief  of  sinners,  must  be  saved 
by  grace :  yet,  such  conduct  is  pleasing  to  him, 
who  does  approve,  and  will  reward  the  humble 
piety  of  his  young  disciples. 


PRAYER.  167 

§  8,    PRAYER    FOR    GRACE    TO    COPY    THE    EXAMPLES    OF 
EARLY  PIETV,  ENUMERATEI)  IN    THIS    CHAPTER. 

Blessed  Lord,  how  many  are  those  engaging 
motives,  which  urge  me  to  yield  my  all  to  thee ! 
With  pleasure  let  me  review  those  which  have 
been  presented  to  me ;  and  not  merely  may  the 
review  afford  me  pleasure,  but  from  it  may  I  ga- 
ther immortal  benefit.  Is  it  indeed  true,  O  my 
God,  that  I  have  noiu  the  opportunity  of  making 
a  more  acceptable  offering  of  myself  to  thee,  than 
I  ever  hereafter  shall  be  able  to  make  ?  Is  it  in- 
deed true,  that  in  thy  sight,  and  that  of  the  bless- 
ed Jesus,  early  piety  has  such  peculiar  charms  ? 
Let  me  not  doubt  this,  even  for  a  single  mo- 
ment ;  but  rather  let  me  bless  thee,  for  conde- 
scending so  low,  as  to  regard  any  thing  in  sin- 
ful man  as  pleasing  to  thyself.  Now  then,  O 
Lord,  make  me  a  monument  to  the  honour  of 
thy  grace.  Now  wash  me  in  the  blood  of  thy 
dear  Son.  Noiu  adorn  my  soul  with  his  spot- 
less righteousness,  and  form  me  to  his  lovely 
likeness.  Let  Jesus,  beholding  me,  love  me.  Let 
him  see  in  me  of  the  travail  of  his  soul,  and  be- 
hold in  me  another  young  convert  to  his  gospel. 
In  these  my  early  days,  like  Mary,  may  I  sit  at 
his  feet  and  hear  his  tcord;  and  O,  may  a  double 
portion  of  that  spirit,  which  dwelt  in  thy  chil- 
dren of  old,  descend  on  me.  Like  Abel,  may  I 
offer  in  sacrifice  to  thee,  whatever  I  possess  most 
dear  and  precious.  Like  Enoch,  may  I  walk 
with  God.  Like  Abraham,  may  I  sojourn  on 
earth,  as  in  a  strange  country;  looking /or  a  city 
that  hath  foundations,  laid  by  thy  almighty  hand. 
O,  may  I  possess  the  precious  faith  which  he  pos. 
sessed,  and  follow  thee,  though  I  should  not  know 
whither  I  am  going !    Like  Moses,  may  I  choose 


01 


1G8  ADVANTAGES  OF  EARLY  RELIGION. 

rather  to  suffer  affliction  ivith  the  people  of  Gon 
than  to  enjoy  the  pleasures  of  sin  for  a  season 
May  I  esteem  the  reproach  of  Christ  my  great 
est  honour ;  and  may  I  endure,  as  seeing  thet 
who  art  invisible.  Like  Joshua,  may  I  serve  th( 
Lord ;  and,  with  Samuel,  say,  Speak,  Lord,  f 
thy  servant  heareth.  O,  may  I  imitate  the  faith 
and  piety  of  all  that  goodly  company,  who  sought 
thee  in  their  youth;  who  loved  thee  in  theii 
prime;  and  who  are  honoured  by  thee  in  the 
realms  of  endless  day.  If  but  few  love  thee  in 
sincerity,  let  me  be  one  of  that  happy  few  who 
make  God  their  all.  Should  I  find  early  reli- 
gion the  source  of  many  difficulties ;  should  it 
even  expose  me  to  the  contempt  and  aversion  of 
friends,  whose  esteem  and  love  I  now  enjoy ; 
yet,  O  my  God,  let  not  this  move  me  ;  but  may  I 
gladly  bear  my  cross  for  him,  who  bore  a  heavier 
cross  for  me.  May  I  cheerfully  go  to  him  with- 
out the  camp,  bearing  his  reproach,  and  esteem- 
ing nothing  dear  comi^ared  with  thy  love ;  no- 
thing valuable  compared  with  an  interest  in  Je- 
sus. Grant  this,  O  blessed  Lord,  for  my  Re- 
deemer's sake.     Amen. 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE    ADVANTAGES    OF   EARLY    RELIGION.     , 

§  L  Among  those  things  which  have  most  in- 
fluence on  the  minds  of  men,  are  profit  and 
pleasure.  While  recommending  early  religion 
to  you,  think  not  that  I  wish  to  render  you  poor 
or  unhappy.  Far  from  it :  I  rather  wish  you  to 
be  truly  rich,  and  truly  happy,  not  merely  for 


EARLY  PIETY  COMPARATIVELY  EASY.  1  G9 

the  little  span  in  which  earthly  pleasures  or 
riches  are  enjoyed  ;  not  merely  for  a  period  so 
short  as  ten  thousand  thousand  ages,  but  for 
ever  and  ever.  Where  is  that  treasure  to  be 
found  that  Avill  enrich  you  for  eternity  ?  Not 
amidst  the  wealth  of  this  world.  "  Man  knovv- 
eth  not  the  price  thereof ;  neither  is  it  found  in 
the  land  of  the  living.  The  depth  saith,  It  is  not 
in  me  ;  and  the  sea  saith.  It  is  not  with  me.  It 
cannot  be  gotten  for  gold,  neither  shall  silver  be 
weighed  for  the  price  thereof."  Where  are  they, 
that,  but  a  few  years  back,  possessed  pleasures 
and  honours,  parks  and  palaces,  crowns  and 
kingdoms  ?     All  vanished  from  the  world  ; 

—  "And  now,  ye  lying  vanities  of  life, 
Ye  ever  tempting,  ever  cheating  train, 
What  are  ye  now,  and  what  is  yovir  amount!" 

While  entreating  you  to  pursue  more  solid  good, 
I  would  recount  to  you  some  of  the  advantages 
of  religion  in  youth. 

§  2.  Early  piety  is  comparatively  easy.  The 
total  corruption  of  man^s  heart  is  such,  that  at 
every  period  of  life,  there  are  difficulties  in  turn- 
ing to  God  in  reality.  At  any  time  it  is  need- 
ful to  strive  to  enter  tlie  strait  gate  ;  but  it  is  much 
easier  to  turn  to  God  in  youth,  than  it  is  in  later 
life ;  the  heart  is  then  not  so  hardened,  as  it  is 
by  a  longer  life  of  impenitence  and  sin.  The 
mind  is  not  so  averse  to  instruction,  as  it  is  when 
prejudices  have  so  darkened  all  its  faculties  as 
almost  to  exclude  the  heavenly  light.  When 
sin  has  long  reigned  triumphantly  ;  when  Satan 
has  long  led  the  sinner  captive  ;  it  is  hard  to  es- 
cape from  his  tyranny,  and  many  have  experien- 
ced this.  The  scriptures  confirm  the  doctrine 
of  the  difficulty  of  conversion  late  in  life.    "  Can 


170  EARLT  PIETY  EAST 

the  Ethiopian  change  his  sldn,  or  the  leopard 
his  spots  ?  then  may  ye  also  do  good,  that  are  ac- 
customed to  do  evil."  In  this  sense  we  may  ap- 
ply, with  dreadful  propriety,  the  words  of  Ni- 
codemus  :  Can  a  man  be  horn  2vhen  he  is  old!' 
When  is  it  that  disease  is  most  easily  checked  ? 
Not  when  it  has  laid  fast  hold  on  the  vitals  ;  but 
when  its  first  symptoms  appear.  When  is  it 
that  the  mistaken  traveller  may  most  easily  for- 
sake the  wrong,  and  return  to  the  right  path  ? 
Not  when  he  has  travelled  for  miles  in  a  wrong 
direction,  but  when  he  enters  that  way.  Were 
you  rushing  down  a  steep  hill,  -when  might  you 
most  easily  stop  ?  Not  when  you  had  nearly 
reached  the  bottom,  but  when  you  began  to  de- 
scend.    So 

"  'Tis  easy  work  if  j-ou  begin  ^ 

To  fear  the  Lord  betimes;'/' 
While  siuners  that  grow  old  in  sin, 

Are  harden'd  iu  their  crimes." 

In  another  view  early  religion  is  comparatively 
easy.  There  is  reason  to  believe  that  God  will 
sooner  hear  your  prayers  for  mercy,  and  grant 
you  peace  and  pardon,  if  you  turn  to  him  imme- 
diately, than  if  you  refuse  for  awhile  to  listen  to 
his  calls.  If  you  delay  to  turn,  God  may  after- 
wards delay  to  manifest  his  forgiving  love  ;  and 
may  lead  you  through  tedious  scenes  of  doubt 
and  pain,  anxiety  and  fear,  which,  but  for  these 
refusals,  you  would  have  never  known.  An 
eminent  Christian,  who  was  converted  by  no 
means  at  a  late  period  in  life,  after  feeling  dis- 
appointment that  his  mind  was  not  relieved 
from  its  oppressive  burden  so  soon  as  he  had 
hoped,  observed,  "  I  have  now  learned  how  un- 
reasonable  was  such    an   early  expectation.     I 


AND  HONOURABLE.  171 

have  been  taught   to  wait  patiently  upon  God 
who  waited  so  long  for  meJ'* 

Before  your  sins  are  more  multiplied,  before 
your  heart  is  hardened,  before  Satan  gains  a 
firmer  hold  upon  you,  O,  turn  to  God  I  Make  not 
work  for  future  repentance.  Harden  not  your 
heart  now,  lest  God,  in  righteous  judgment, 
should  harden  it  for  ever.  Employ  not  your  best 
years  in  shutting  the  gate  of  life  against  your- 
self; or  in  filling  with  difficulties  the  only  path- 
way to  heaven.  If  a  person,  with  but  one  w^ay 
from  a  precipice,  were  to  employ  himself  for 
weeks  and  months  in  stopping  up  that  way,  or 
in  making  his  escape  by  it  tenfold  more  difficult, 
how  great  would  be  his  distraction  !  If  another, 
with  one  door  opened,  to  let  him  escape  from  a 
dismal  dungeon,  were  to  spend  the  time  in  which 
he  should  flee  from  prison  and  the  gallows,  in 
fastening  up  that  one  door  with  bolts  and  bars, 
how  great,  how  dismal,  would  be  his  folly  !  But, 
O  my  young  friend,  if  you  do  not  now  turn  to 
Jesus  and  to  God,  far  greater  will  be  yours  ! 
By  continuing  careless  of  the  I^ord,  you  will  fill 
with  difficulties  that  one  way  of  escaping  from 
hell,  which  is  now  comparatively  easy ;  you  will 
shut  against  yourself  the  door  of  mercy  by  which 
you  should  flee  from  destruction  ;  and  will  make 
it  tenfold  more  difficult  for  your  own  soul  to  es- 
cape the  flaming  sword  of  divine  Justice  ;  the 
eternal  prison  which  is  never  opened ;  and  the 
fire  that  never  shall  be  quenched. 

§  3.  Another  advantage  attending  early  piety 
is,  that  it  is  that  which  is  most  honourable  to 
God  and  to  yourself;  and  it  is  that  which  has  the 
fairest  prospect  of  becoming  eminent  piety.  Re- 
ligion is  honoured,  when  the  vouns:  but  faithful 


172  EARLY  PIETY  HONOURABLE, 

votaries  of  the  liOrd,  are  seen  renouncing  tlie 
world  in  the  prime  of  their  lives.  The  world 
seems  to  imagine  that  religion  is  only  suited  for 
gloom  and  age  ;  but  they  show  that  it  has  charms 
that  win  the  hearts  of  the  sprightly  and  the  young. 
The  world  seems  to  suppose  that  what  Satan 
leaves,  is  all  that  should  be  devoted  to  Cod  ;  but 
the  young  followers  of  the  Lamb  show,  that  such 
are  the  excellencies  of  his  service,  that  it  calls  for 
their  youth,  their  health,  their  prime,  their  all. 
How  have  the  glories  of  religion  been  displayed 
by  those  young  converts,  who,  after  a  short  course 
of  humble  piety,  have  bid  an  early  and  yet  joy- 
ful farewell  to  all  beneath  the  sun;  w^ho  have 
seen  no  charms  in  this  deluding  world  sufficient 
to  tempt  their  wish  to  stay  ;  but  who  have  calm- 
ly departed  to  eternal  rest,  before  they  had  pass- 
ed even  sixteen,  eighteen,  or  twenty  years  below  ! 
Will  not  you,  my  young  friend,  make  that  offer- 
ing to  the  liOrd,  which  such  have  made  ?  Will 
not  you  tell  a  deluded  w^orld  that  religion  is  bet- 
ter than  life? 

Early  piety  is  honourable,  as  it  is  that  which 
is  most  likely  to  become  eminent  piety.  Faint 
at  the  best  is  the  likeness  of  God  on  his  children 
in  this  world.  The  greatest  saint  is  only  a  peu'u 
tent  and  pardoned  sinner;  but  when  faith,  and 
hope,  and  love,  and  holiness  appear  in  their  fair- 
est earthly  form,  then  is  religion  honoured  most ; 
then  even  its  enemies  at  times  are  consti-ained 
to  bear  testimony  to  its  excellence.  Such  are  the 
testimonies  that  the  ancient  heathens  bore  to  the 
virtues  of  the  primitive  Christians.  ''These," 
said  one,  "are  the  men  who  speak  as  they  think, 
and  do  as  they  speak."  "Behold,"  said  another, 
*'  how  the  Christians  love  one  another  !"     Even 


PROFITABLE,  AND  LIKELY  TO  BE  EMINENT.      173 

the  apostate  Julian,  their  great  enemy,  com- 
mended their  chanty  and  benevolence.  Who  is 
it  that  bear  most  of  these  divine  fruits  ?  Is  it 
the  late  convert  ?  Ah,  no  !  "  Those  that  are 
planted  in  the  house  of  the  Lord,  shall  flourish 
in  the  courts  of  our  God,  they  shall  still  bring 
forth  fruit  in  old  age  :"  (Ps.  xcii.)  It  is  the  pie- 
ty of  tliose  who  knevi'  religion  in  early  life,  that 
thus  bears  fruit  in  age ;  and  having  borne  it  long, 
still  bears  it  then ;  and  becomes  eminent  on 
earth,  or  is  glorified  in  heaven.  If,  as  many 
believe,  there"  be  various  degrees  of  happiness 
and  glory  in  the  eternal  world,  who  have  so  fair 
a  prospect  of  reaching  the  higher,  as  those  who 
begin  the  soonest  ?  A  person  setting  out  on  a 
journey  at  day-break,  may  travel  further  by  noon, 
than  he  who  sets  out  at  noon  would  do  by  mid- 
night. So  in  religion,  they  who  yield  their 
hearts  to  Christ  in  youth,  may  get  much  forward- 
er in  the  way  to  heaven  by  middle  life,  than 
they  could  do  by  extreme  old  age,  if  they  were 
to  put  ofi'  the  care  of  the  soul  to  later  years. 
Thus  every  way  early  religion  has  its  advanta- 
ges. If  you  now  come  to  Christ,  and  should  live 
to  old  age,  he  may  make  your  piety  more  emi- 
nent here,  and  give  a  brighter  crown  hereafter ; 
or  if  you  should  die,  as  many  do,  in  the  prime 
of  life,  you  will  have  lived  long  enough  to  find 
the  way  to  glory  and  God. 

"  Long  do  they  live,  nor  (Jie  too  soon, 
Who  live  till  life's  great  work  is  done." 

Whatever  may  befall  you,  nothing  would  come 
amiss,  when  either  life  or  death  were  a  blessing ; 
when  a  longer  stay  below  might  more  mature 
the  work  of  God  in  your  soul,  and  a  shorter  one 
would  remove  you  to  speedier  glory. 


1  74  EARLY  PIETY  THE 

§  4.  Early  religion  is  not  merely  easy  and  lio- 
noiirable,  but  profitable  piety.  "Godliness  is 
profitable  for  all  things,  having  the  promise  of 
tlie  life  that  now  is,  and  of  that  which  is  to  come :" 
( 1  Tim.  iv.  8.)  It  brings  its  own  reward  ;  it  will 
advance  your  temporal,  spiritual,  and  eternal 
welfare.  If  you  are  rich,  it  would  make  you  in- 
finitely richer ;  would  give  you  treasures,  com- 
pared with  which,  the  wealth  of  the  world  ia 
lighter  than  a  feather  weighed  against  mountains 
of  gold.  If  poverty  be  your  lot,  this  would  make 
you  partaker  of  those  blessings,  which  constitute 
an  angePs  wealth.  Though  poor  on  earth,  you 
would  be  rich  in  heaven.  The  soul  that  en- 
joys the  blessings  of  the  gospel,  may  truly  say 
to  its  great  Author, 

*'  Thou  art  my  God,  and  all  the  world  is  mine : 
While  Thou  art  sovereign,  I'm  secure. 
I  shall  be  rich,  till  Thou  art  poor ; 
For  all  I  wish,  and  all  I  fear,  heaven,   eartl),  and  bell 
are  thine." 

So  profitable  is  true  piety,  that  it  would  not 
merely  be  the  source  of  numberless  blessings, 
but  would  make  all  things  blessings  to  you  ; 
pain  and  sorrow,  as  well  as  ease  and  comfort ; 
sickness,  as  well  as  health ;  and  death,  as  well  as 
life.  How  blessed  a  state  this  is  to  live  in,  and 
much  more  to  die  in,  you  may  perceive  by  the 
following  considerations. 

§  5.  Consider  the  privileges  and  spiritual  bless- 
ings that  the  disciples  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
possess.  Perhaps,  if  I  mention  a  few  of  them  in 
the  language  of  some,  who  being  dead,  yet  speak, 
I  shall  present  you  with  a  more  pleasing  enume- 
ration of  these  blessings,  than  I  could  offer  in 


SOURCE  OF  NUMBERLESS  BLESSINGS.  1  7o 

any  words  of  mine.     Hear  then  how  the  Chris- 
tian can  describe  his  wealth  : 

"  'Tis  mine  the  covenant  of  his  grace, 

And  every  promise  rainej 
All  sprung  from  everlasting  love. 

And  seal'd  by  blood  divine. 

On  my  unworthy  favour'd  head. 

Its  blessings  all  unite  ; 
Blessings  more  numerous  than  the  stars, 
More  lasting  and  more  bright. 

The  great  the  everlasting  God, 

My  Father  is  become ; 
Jesus,  my  guardian,  and  my  friend, 

And  heaven  my  final  home. 

Jesus,  thou  art  my  righteousness. 

For  all  my  sins  were  thine  ; 
Thy  death  hath  bought  of  God  my  peace, 

Thy  life  hath  made  him  mine. 

For  evermore  my  rest  shall  be. 

Close  to  thy  bleeding  side ; 
This  all  my  hope,  this  all  my  plea. 

For  me  the  Saviour  died. 
Thy  word,  through  all  the  tedious  night 

Of  life,  £hall  guide  my  way, 
Till  I  behold  the  clearer  light 

Of  an  eternal  day. 

Light  are  the  pains  that  nature  brings. 

How  short  my  sorrows  are, 
When  with  eternal,  future  things. 

The  present  I  compare  ! 

The  Lord  has  promis'd  good  to  me. 

His  word  my  hope  secures  ; 
He  will  my  shield  and  portion  be. 

As  long  as  life  endures. 

Yes,  when  this  flesh  and  heart  shall  fail, 

And  mortal  life  shall  cease  ; 
I  shall  possess  within  the  veil, 

A  life  of  joy  and  peace. 


176      CHRISTIAN  PRIVILKGES  AND  BLESSINGS. 

The  earth  shall  soon  dissolve  like  snow. 

The  sun  forbear  to  shine  ; 
But  God  who  call'd  me  here  below, 

Will  be  for  ever  mine. 

And  O  what  treasures  yet  unknown. 
Are  lodg'd  in  worlds  to  come ' 

If  rich  the  enjoyments  by  the  way, 
How  happy  is  my  home! 

Go,  worldlings,  boast  of  all  your  Btores, 
And  tell  how  bi'ight  they  shine  ; 

Your  heaps  of  glitt'ring  dust  are  yours. 
But  my  Redeemer's  mine." 

Or  hear  the  Christian  addressing  the  world 

*'Ye  simple  souls,  that  stray 

Far  from  the  path  of  peace. 
That  lonely  unfrequented  way, 

To  life  and  happiness  j 
Why  will  ye  folly  love. 

And  throng  the  downward  road, 
And  hate  the  wisdom  from  above. 

And  mock  the  sons  of  God  ? 

Madness  and  misery, 

Ye  count  our  life  beneath  ; 
And  nothing  great  or  good  can  Bee, 

Or  glorious  in  our  death  : 
Yet  good  unsearchable 

In  Jesu's  love  we  know. 
And  pleasures,  springing  from  the  well 

Of  life,  our  souls  o'erflow. 

The  spirit  we  receive, 

Of  wisdom,  grace,  and  power; 
And  always  sorrowful  we  live, 

Rejoicing  evermore. 
Angels  our  servants  are. 

And  keep  iu  all  our  ways  ;  ■ 
And  iu  their  careful  hands  they  bear. 

The  sacred  heirs  of  grace. 

\Tnto  that  heavenly  bliss, 
They  all  our  steps  attend  ; 


THE  CHRISTIAN'S  BLESSEDNESS.  177 

And  God  himself  our  Father  is, 

And  Jesus  is  our  Friend. 
The  God  we  worship  now. 

Will  guide  us  till  we  die ; 
Will  be  our  God  while  here  below. 

And  ours  above  the  sky. 

8uch,  my  young  friend,  are  the  privileges  and 
blessings  of  the  children  of  God.  In  fact,  they 
are  so  great  and  numerous,  that  the  promises  on- 
ly which  are  made  to  them  in  the  scriptures,  are 
sufficient  to  fill  a  volume.* 

§  6.  Glance  at  a  few  of  the  blessings,  as  de- 
scribed in  the  scriptures,  which  the  real  posses- 
sors of  religion  enjoy.  There  is  joy  at  their  con- 
version in  the  'presence  of  the  angels  of  God ;  joy 
over  one  sinner  that  repenteth.  They  are  born  of 
God;  are  new  creatures  in  Christ  Jesus  ;  in  them 
old  things  pass  away,  and  all  things  become  new. 
They  are  blessed,  for  their  transgression  is  forgiv- 
en, and  their  sin  is  covered.  While  the  world  li- 
eth  in  tvickedness,  condemned  and  perishing,  there 
is  no  condemnation  for  them  icho  are  in  Christ  Je- 
sus. They  have  passed  from  death  to  life. 
Though  their  sins  were  as  scarlet,  they  are  white 
as  snow ;  and  though  they  were  red  like  crimson, 
they  are  as  wool.  Their  iniquities  are  cast  into  the 
depths  of  the  sea;  are  as  much  hidden  and  as 
much  forgotten  as  those  things  which  are  buried 
in  the  fathomless  abysses  of  the  ocean.  Jesus  is 
the  propitiation  for  their  sins ;  they  have  redemp- 
tion through  his  blood.  They  are  redeemed,  not 
with  corruptible  things,  as  silver  and  gold,  but 
with  the  precious  blood  of  Christ.     They  ivere  as 

*  See  Clarke's  Scripture  Promisps,  an  instructive  and  encouraging 
book.  Luke,  xv.  10.  John,  i.  15.  2  Cor.  v.  17.  Ps.  xxxii.  1. 
IJohn.  V.  19.  Rom.  Tiii.  1.  John,  v.  2t.  Is.  i.  18.  Mic.  vii.  19. 
1  John,  ii.  C.    Epheeians,  i.  T.    1  Peter,  i.  18,  19. 


178      DESCRIPTION,  IN  SCRIPTURE  LANGUAGE, 

sheep  going  astray,  but  are  returned  to  the  shepherd 
and  bishop  of  their  soids.  They  are  accepted  in 
the  beloved;  and  by  the  Father  are  made  meet  for 
the  inheritance  of  the  saints  in  light;  and  have  a 
hope  laid  up  for  them  in  heaven.  Being  justified 
by  faith,  they  have  peace  ivith  God,  through  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.  The  Son  has  made  them 
free,  and  they  are  /ree  indeed;  and  being  made 
free  from  sin,  they  have  \\\eiy:  fruit  unto  holiness, 
and  the  end  everlasting  life.  The  world  is  with- 
out Christ,  luithout  hope,  ivithout  God;  but  they 
are  no  more  strangers  and  foreigners,  but  fellow- 
citizens  of  the  saints,  and  of  the  household  of  God. 
Even  on  earth  they  belong  to  heaven,  for  they 
are  come  unto  mount  Sion,  u?ito  the  city  of  the  liv- 
ing God,  the  heavenly  Jerusalem ;  and  to  an  innvr- 
merable  company  of  angels  ;  to  the  general  assem- 
bly and  church  of  the  first  born,  ivhich  are  written 
in  heaven;  and  to  God  the  Judge  of  all;  and  to 
the  spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect ;  and  to  Jesus 
the  mediator  of  the  new  covenant.  God  is  not  asha- 
med to  be  called  their  God,  for  he  hath  prepared  for 
them  a  city.  They  are  even  the  children  of  God, 
arid  if  children,  then  heirs,  heirs  of  God,  and  joint 
heirs  with  Christ.  Behold  ivhat  manner  of  love  the 
Father  hath  bestowed  upon  them,  that  they  should 
be  called  the  sons  of  God;  nor  doth  it  yet  appear 
what  they  shall  be ;  but  they  know,  that  when  he 
shall  appear,  they  shall  be  like  him,  for  they  shall 
see  him  as  he  is.  In  their  Father's  house  are  many 
mansions;  and  their  Lord  is  gone  to  prepare  a 
place  for  them  ;  and  will  come  again  and  take 
them  to  himself,  that  where  he  is  they  may  be  also. 

1  Peter,  ii.  25.    Ephes   i.  6.    Colos.  i.  12.    Colos.  i.  5.    Rom.  v.  1. 

John,  viii.  36.         Rom.  vi.  22,        Ephes.  ii.   12.        Ephes.  ii.  19. 

Heb.  xii.  22,  24.     Hcb.  xi.  16.     Rom.  viii.  16,  17.     1  John,  iii.  1,  2. 

John,  xiv.  2,  3. 


or  Tll£  BLESSEDNESS  OF   IHE  PIOUS.         179 

While  such  is  their  hope  for  hereafter,  here  they 
are  led  hi/  the  spirit  of  God;  are  temples  of  tlie 
Holy  Spirit;  and  God  hath  sent  forth  the  Spirit 
of  his  Son  into  their  hearts,  crying,  Abba,  Father. 
They  are  the  objects  of  the  eternal  Father's  ten- 
der care.  The  eternal  God  is  their  refuge.  The 
Lord  of  Hosts  is  their  refacje.  Like  as  a  Father  pi- 
tieth  his  children,  so  the  Lord  pitieth  them;  and 
loves  them  with  a  love  more  tender  than  tliat  of 
earthly  parents;  for  he  is  their  Father,  though 
Abraham,  be  ignorant  of  them,  and  though  Isaac 
acknowledge  them  not ;  and  if  even  father  and 
mother  forsook  them,  the  Lord  ivould  take  them 
up.  The  Father  loveth  them  because  they  believe 
on  Christ ;  and  hath  set  them  apart  for  himself. 
They  may  cast  all  their  care  upon  him,  for  he  ca- 
reth  for  them.  Their  Father  knoweth  that  they 
have  need  of  earthly  mercies  ;  he  will  ivithhold  no 
good  thing  from  them,  but  to  his  other  blessings 
will  give  them  grace  and  glory.  He  icill  never 
leave  them  nor  forsake  them ;  but  icith  everlasting 
kindness  will  he  have  mercy  on  them.  He  that 
toucheth  them  toucheth  the  apple  of  his  eye. 
The  mountains  shall  depart,  and  the  hills  be  remov- 
ed ;  but  his  kindness  shall  not  depart  from  them, 
neither  shall  the  covenant  o/"his  peace  be  removed. 
No  weapon  formed  against  them  shall  prosper. 
Can  a  woman  forget  her  sucking  child,  that  she 
should  not  have  compassion  on  the  fruit  of  her 
womb  F  yea,  they  may  forget,  yet  will  not  I  forget 
thee,  saith  the  Lord.  He  watches  them  with  a  fa- 
ther's tender  care ;  behold  the  eye  of  the  Lord  is 
upon  the  righteous,  and  his  ears  are  open  to  their 

Rom.  viii.  4.  1  Cor.  iii.  16.  Gal.  iv.  G.  Deut.  xxxiii.  27. 
Ps.  xlvi.  7.  Ps.  X.  3,  13.  Is.  Ixiii.  9.  Ps.  xxvii.  10.  Jolin,  xvi.  27. 
Ps.  iv.  3.  IPet.  V.  7.  Matt.  vi.  32.  P.s.  Ixxxiv.  11.  Heb.  xiii.  .0. 
Is.  iiv.  8.  Zee.  li.  8.  Is.  liv.  10.  Is.  liv.  17.  Is.  xlix.  11.   Ps.  xxxiv.  lor. 


180      DESCRIPTION,  IN  SCRIPTURE  LANGUAGE, 

cry.  He  will  enable  them  to  overcome  their 
mightiest  foes,  even  Satan  will  the  God  of  peace 
bruise  under  iheiv  feet  shortly.  The  very  hairs  of 
their  head  are  all  numbered.  They  have  access 
to  God ;  he  hears  their  secret  prayers,  and  luill 
reward  them  openly.  Their  fellowship  is  with  the 
Father,  and  ivifh  his  Son  Jesus  Christ.  Their  ef- 
fectual fervent  prayer  availeth  much.  Jesus  is 
their  divine  Shepherd.  He  the  Lord  is  their 
Shepherd,  they  shall  7iot  ivant.  He  will  feed  his 
flock  like  a  shepherd,  he  ivill  gather  the  lambs  ivith 
his  arm,  and  carry  them  in  his  bosom.  His  sheep 
hear  his  voice,  and  he  knoweth  them,  and  they 
folloia  him,  and  he  giveth  them  eternal  life,  and 
they  shall  never  perish,  neither  shall  any  one  pluck 
them  out  of  his  hand.  They  are  branches  of  Christ 
the  living  vine;  are  members  of  his  body;  are  clo- 
thed with  Christ;*  are  lights  of  the  ivorld ;  salt 
of  the  earth ;  are  dear  to  Christ  as  brother,  and 
sister,  and  mother,  united.  —  When  Christ  de- 
scribes their  character,  he  pronounces  them  bless- 
ed, for  theirs  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven;  they  shall  be 
comforted;  they  shall  inherit  the  (promised)  land  ;\ 
shall  be  filled ;  shall  obtain  mercy  and  see  God. 
When  the  world  persecutes  and  reviles  them, 
their  reward  is  great  in  heaven.  Their  life  is  hid 
with  Christ  in  God  ;  and  when  Christ,  ivho  is  their 

«  Few  expressions  are  more  striking  than  this.  It  has  been  observ- 
ed, that  putting  on  Christ  implies, "  that  to  God  now  looking  on  them, 
there  appears  nothing  but  Christ ;  they  are,  as  it  were,  covered  all 
over  with  him,  as  a  man  is  with  the  clothes  he  has  put  on.  And  hence, 
it  is  said,  in  the  next  verse,  they  are  all  one  in  Christ  Jesus,  as  if 
there  were  but  that  one  person."    Vide  Doddridge  in  loc. 

+  Ten  gen.  The  land  —  the  heavenly  land,  the  better  country 
promised  to  believers.    Vide  Campbell  in  loc. 

Rom.  xvi.  20.  Matt.  x.  30.  Ephes.  ii.  18.  Matt.  vi.  6.  vii.  7,  11. 
1  John,  i.  13.  James,  v.  16.  John,  x,  11.  Ps.  xxiii.  1.  Is.  xl.  11. 
John,  X.  27,  28.  John,  xv.  5.  Ephes.  v.  30.  Gal.  iii.  27.  Matt.  v.  11. 
Matt  V.  13.  Matt.  xii.  50.  Matt.  xiii.  16.  Matt.  v.  3  —  7. 
Matt  V.  11,  12. 


OF  THE  BLESSEDNESS  OF  THE  PIOUS.  181 

life,  shall  appear,  they  also  shall  appear  with  him 
ill  glory.     Jesus   calls  them  his  friends.      The 
blessed  angels  of  heaven  are  employed  on  er- 
rands of  love  on  their  behalf,  and  are  ministerivg 
spirits  to  the  heirs  of  salvation.      The  angel  of  the 
Lord  encampeth  round  about   them ;    and   those 
happy  spirits  have  a  charge  given  them  to  keep 
them.     Their  names  are  written  in  heaven;  are 
recorded  in  the  book  of  life.     They  form  a  little 
flock,  to  whom  it  is  the  Father's  good  pleasure  to 
give  the  kingdom.     For  them  a  rest  remains  ;  and 
eye  hath  not  seen  nor  ear  heard,  neither  have  enter- 
ed into  the  heart  of  man  tJie  things  which  God  hath 
prepared  for  them  that  love  him.     The  Father  hiiru 
self  loveth  them,  and  is  willing-  to  grant  their  re- 
quests, but  they  have  also  a  great  intercessor  in 
heaven,  to  add  weight  to  their  requests;  therefore 
they  may  go  boldly  to  the  throne  of  grace.     Christ 
ever  liveth  to  make  intercession  for  them ;    he  is 
their  advocate  ;  and  while  he  pleads  above,  gives 
them  all  needful  grace  below.     He  gives  them 
strength;  and  left  them  peace ;  and  the  peace  of 
God,  which  passeth  all  understanding,  shall  keep 
their  Jiearts  and  minds  through  Christ  Jesus      To 
them  to  live  is  Chris-t,  and  to  die  is  gain      The 
Lord  will  delive)  them  from  every  evil  work,  and 
preserve  them  to  his  heavenly  kingdom ;    and  as 
their  souls  are  committed  to  his  care,  he  will  keep 
what  they  committed  unto  him.     Though  they  are, 
at  best,  bu^^  unprofitable  servants,  yet  their  Lord 
will  own,  and  intinitely  reward  their  little  servi 
ces  ;  so  that  even  a  cup  of  cold  water,  given  to  one 

Col.  iii.  3,  4.  John,  xv.  14.  Heb.  i.  14.  Ps.  xxxiv.  7.  Ps.  \c\.  W. 
Luke,  X.  20.  Phil.  iv.  3.  Luke,  xii.  32.  Heb.  iv.  9.  i  Cor  ii.  9. 
John,  xvi.26,  27.J  Heb.  iv.  14,  16.  Heb.  vii.  2r,.  1  Jonn,  n.  I, 
2  Cor.  xii.  9.         John,   xiv.   27.  Phil.  iv.  7,  9  PliJ.  i.  M. 

2Tim.  iv.  J8,      JTim.  i  12     LiiKe,  sv.'   !.• 
6 


182  THE  BLESSEDNESS  OF  THE   PIOUS. 

of  his  disciples  out  of  love  to  him  shall  in  no 
wise  lose  its  reward.  When  they  speak  often  to 
one  another,  the  Lord  hearkens,  and  a  hook  of  re- 
membrance is  written  before  him,  for  ihem  thati\\\i^ 
fear  him,  and  think  on  his  name.  Blessed  are  they, 
they  do  his  commandments,  and  have  a  right  to  the 
tree  of  life,  and  to  enter  in  through  the  gates  into  the 
heavenly  city.  Though  they  must  die,  yet  their 
end  is  peace.  If  this  earthly  house  of  their  taber- 
nacle be  dissolved,  they  have  a  building  of  God,  a 
house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens. 
When  absent  from  the  body,  they  are  present 
with  the  Lord.  The  day  they  depart  they  are 
with  him  in  Paradise.  There  they  shall  hunger 
no  more,  neither  thirst  any  more ;  they  dwell  he- 
fore  the  throne  of  God ;  and  there  is  no  night  there. 
The  lamb  that  is  in  the  midst  of  the  throne  ivill 
feed  them,  and  lead  them  to  living  fountains  of  wa- 
ters; and  God  shall  wipe  away  all  tears  from  their 
eyes,  and  there  shall  be  no  more  death,  neither 
sorrow  nor  crying,  neither  shall  there  he  any  more 
pain.  At  length  the  Judge  will  descend  ;  then 
even  that  body  which  was  sown  in  corruption, 
shall  be  raised  in  incorruption ;  it  was  sown  in 
dishonour,  it  shall  be  raised  in  glory.  This  mor- 
tal  shall  put  on  immortality;  and  the  worthy 
Judge  eternal  will  say  to  his  friends,  Come,  ye 
blessed  of  my  Father,  inherit  the  kingdom  prepared 
for  you,  from  the  foundation  of  the  world;  and 
they  shall  go  away  into  everlasting  life,  and  shall 
shine  as  the  sun  in  the  kingdom  of  their  Father  for 
ever,  and  so  shall  they  he  ever  ivith  the  Lord. 
Thus  all  things  are  theirs  whether  the  world,  or 
life,  or  death,  or  things  present,  or  things  to  come, 

Matt.  X.  42.    Mai.  iii.  16.   Rev.  xxii.  i4.     Ps.  xxxvii.  37.  2Cor.  v.  ]. 

2  Cor.  V.  8.     Luke,  xxiii.  43.    Rev.  vii.  14,  17.     1  t.'or.  xv.  42,  43,  53. 

Matt.  XXV.  34,  46.    Matt,  xiii.  43.    1  Thehs.  4.  17. 


APPEAL  TO  THE  YOUNG  READER.  183 

all  are  theirs,  and  they  are  Christ's  and  Christ  is 
God's.  Happy  is  the  people  that  is  in  such  a  case; 
yea,  .happy  is  that  people  ivhose  God  is  the  Lord. 

§  7.  Does  not  your  heart,  my  youn^  friend, 
burn  within  you,  when  reviewing  such  a  cata- 
logue? of  blessings  ?  Yet  it  is  an  imperfect  one, 
and  the  half  is  not  yet  told.  Do  you  not  exclaim. 
Let  these  blessings  be  mine!  They  may  be 
yours.  Listen  to  Jesus;  commit  your  soul  to 
him ;  give  him  your  youth ;  and  they  shall  be 
yours.  O,  what  treasures  can  vie  with  these  ! 
The  Christian  with  all  these  blessings  is  rich  in 
every  sense ;  rich  for  time,  but  richer  for  eternity. 
Crowais  soon  fall  from  the  heads  that  wear  them  ; 
parks  and  palaces  soon  vanish  from  their  posses- 
sars :  but  the  riches  of  the  believer  infinitely  sur- 
pass them  all.  What  can  they  want  who  pos- 
sess such  blessings  as  have  been  enumerated  ? 
To  them,  what  situation  can  be  destitute  of  com- 
fort ?  Does  their  possessor  look  upwards  ?  it 
is  to  his  eternal  home.  Does  he  look  downward, 
and  see  the  grave  at  his  feet  ?  the  grave,  which 
bounds  the  hopes  and  ends  the  joys  of  others, 
is  to  him  but  a  dark  passage  to  eternal  day.  He 
has  friends,  compared  v.ith  whose  friendship,  that 
of  all  the  mightiest  monarchs  upon  earth  is  as 
insignificant  as  that  of  a  creeping  worm ;  his 
God,  his  Saviour.  The  young  Christian  may 
say,  God  is  mine  ;  Jesus  is  mine ;  angels  my 
future  companions ;  and  heaven  my  home. 

"Though  riches  to  others  be  given. 
Their  com  and  their  vintage  abound  j 
Yet  if  I  have  treasure  in  heaven, 
Where  should  my  affections  be  found  ? 
Why  stoop  for  the  glittering  sands. 
Which  they  are  so  eager  to  share, 
1  Cor.  iii.  21,  23.         Ps.  cxliv.  11. 


184  THE  FLOCK  OF  CHIllST  BLESSED 

I'orgettiug  those  wealthier  lands. 
That  form  iny  inheritance  there. 

Ye  palaces,  sceptres,  and  crowns. 

Your  pride  with  disdain  I  survey; 

Your  pomps  are  hut  shadows  and  sounds. 

And  pass  in  a  moment  away  ; 

The  crown  that  my  Saviour  bestows. 

Yon  permanent  sun  will  outshine  j 

My  joy  everlastingly  flows. 

My  God,  my  Redeemer,  is  mine." 

§  8.  A  most  inestimable  advantage  attending 
early  piety  is,  that  its  possessors  will  enjoy  the 
Saviour's  everlasting' love.  "  Whosoever,"  saith 
he,  "  shall  do  the  will  of  my  Father,  which  is  in 
heaven,  the  same  is  my  brother,  and  sister,  and 
mother."  All  such  are  miited  with  him  in  as 
endeared  and  close  a  union,  and  enjoy  as  much 
of  his  affection,  as  if  they  could  join  in  one  seve- 
ral of  the  tenderest  connexions.  Inf  youth  and 
in  age  the  best  blessings  flow  from  his  love.  He 
guides  the  inexperienced  feet  of  his  friends  "  to 
iairer  worlds  on  high."  In  youth  his  precepts 
direct,  in  age  his  promises  support  them.  His 
love  is  an  everlasting  love.  "Who  shall  separate 
us  from  the  love  of  Christ?  Shall  tribulation,  or 
distress,  or  persecution,  or  famine,  or  nakedness, 
or  peril,  or  the  sword  ?  Nay,  in  all  these  things  we 
are  more  than  conquerors,  through  him  that  hath 
loved  us.  For  I  am  persuaded,  that  neither  death, 
nor  life,  nor  angels,  nor  principalities,  nor  pow- 
ers, nor  things  present,  nor  things  to  come,  nor 
height,  nor  depth,  nor  any  other  cr  ature,  shall 
be  able  to  separate  us  from  the  love  of  God, 
which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord :"  Rom.  viii. 
35.  The  love  of  Christ  to  his  friends  extends  to 
another  and  eternal  world.  His  unwearied  af- 
fection, once  displayed  on  earth,  shines  brightest 


IN  HIS  EVERLASTING  LOVE.  185 

in  that  heavenly  country  whence  every  evil  is  for 
ever  banished.  The  limits  of  the  world  are  much 
too  narrow  for  his  goodness ;  and  within  the 
contracted  bounds  of  mortal  life,  he  displays 
but  a  small  portion  of  that  love  of  which  eter- 
nity itself  will  be  perpetually  making  fresh  dis- 
coveries Generation  after  generation  dies,  and 
the  dearest  human  ties  are  quickly  broken.  Our 
fathers,  where  are  they  ?  Our  children,  where 
shall  they  shortly  be?  Mixed  in  the  same 
dust  with  those  who^  lived  five  thousand  years 
before  them;  but  that  band  which  joins  the 
humble  disciple  to  the  glorious  Saviour,  remains 
unbroken  The  seas,  the  vallies,  the  rocks,  the 
mountains,  may  all  be  thrown  into  one  confused 
mass  of  ruin;  the  stars  may  cease  to  glitter  in 
the  sky ;  the  moon  no  longer  walk  in  brightness 
there;  the  sun  be  turned  to  darkness;  and  of 
this  fair  creation,  nothing,  or  nothing  but  a  wreck 
remain :  this  must  be ;  iDut  the  love  of  Jesus  will 
be  seen  in  other  heavens  when  these  decay.  The 
real  Christian  may  exclaim.  Take  wing,  my  soul ; 
pass  beyond  these  mortal  things,  "beyond  the 
flaming* bounds  of  time,"  beyond  the  "last  and 
loved,  though  dreadful  day."  —  Take  wing,  my 
soul ;  pass  in  thy  thoughts  beyond  all  these :  but, 
O,  to  what  world,  to  what  age  wilt  thou  go, 
where  Jesus  shall  cease  to  love  thee,  or  cease  to 
bless  thee !  Nay,  thou  shalt  be  for  ever  with  the 
J^ord.  He,  who  for  thee  was  content  with  the 
manger  for  his  palace,  and  thorns  for  his  crown, 
will  never  forsake  thee.  He,  whose  love  to  thee 
shone  forth  so  strongly  amidst  the  clouds  of 
worldly  sorrow,  will  not  love  thee  less,  now  he  is 
surrounded  by  the  splendours  of  eternal  glory. 
Nor  death,  nor  life,  nor  evil  angels,  principalities, 


J»(j      BLESSEDNESS  OF   ENJOYING  CHRIST'S   LOVB. 

nor  powers,  nothing  within  the  circle  of  time, 
nothing  within  the  expanse  of  eternity,  nothing 
here,  nothing  hereafter,  shall  part  his  humble, 
faithful,  friends  and  him.  Blessed  Saviour,  the 
treasure  of  eternity  shall  be  thy  affection;  the 
boast,  the  bliss  of  eternity,  shall  be  thy  love.  O 
happy  they,  who  enjoy  the  love  of  Jesus  Christ, 
thougli  with  the  loss  of  all  the  world  !  Happy 
even  they,  who  died  to  secure  it !  happy  mar- 
tyrs, who  bled  to  keep  it !  Happy  they,  who 
sought  it  in  youth,  though  f?t  the  expense  of  eve- 
ry friend  besides,  of  every  comfort,  and  of  life 
itself!  Yes,  happy  martyrs,  happy  sufferers, 
who  sought  and  found  his  love,  when  all  the 
world  hated  them  for  seeking  it !  They  have  it 
still.  Their  persecutions  are  no  more.  Their 
friends,  from  whose  bosoms  they  were  torn,  and 
whose  hearts  bled  to  see  them  bleed,  have  long 
since  gone  to  the  chambers  of  the  dead ;  but  they 
have  not  lost  the  love  of  Jesus,  nor  will  they 
through  eternal  days.  God  of  heaven,  teach  my 
youthful  reader  to  comit  all  things  dross,  com- 
pared with  this  most  precious  blessing. 

§  9.  Connected  with  the  last  blessing  is  the 
equally  inestimable  one  of  the  eternal  Father's 
love.  If  brought,  through  his  dear  Son,  into  his 
family,  you  will  become  the  object  of  his  tender- 
est  care.  So  much  is  said  on  this  subject,  in  the 
sixth  section  of  this  chapter,  that  it  is  the  less 
needful  to  enlarge.  What  can  be  more  touch- 
ing than  to  be  assured,  that  the  eternal  God  pi- 
tieth  his  children,  as  a  parent  pitieth  his  infant 
offspring;  that  he  not  merely  knoweth  their 
frame,  not  merely  is  acquainted  with  all  their 
weakness,  frailty,  and  sorrow,  but  remembereth, 
ever  keeps  in  view,  that  they  are  but  dust;  and 


AND  OF  BEING  THE  CHILDREN  OF  GOD.       J  87 

that  it  is  a  far  more  possible  thing,  not  merely 
for  one,  but  for  every  mother  to  forget  the  infant 
babe  she  fondles  on  her  bosom,  than  for  that  great 
but  blessed  God  to  cease  to  love  his  children. 
What  can  be  more  pleasing  than  to  hear,  that 
he,  though  so  infinite  in  power  and  majesty,  is 
not  ashamed  to  be  called  their  God ;  but  has  pre- 
pared for  them  a  residence,  where  his  own  hand 
shall  wipe  every  tear  from  every  eye  !  and  where 
he  will  own  and  love  them  as  liis  children  for 
ever  and  ever !  When  the  Danish  JNIissionaries 
in  India  appointed  some  of  their  Indian  converts 
to  translate  a  catechism,  in  which  it  was  mention- 
ed, as  the  privilege  of  Christians,  to  become  the 
sons  of  God ;  one  of  the  translators,  startled  at  so 
bold  a  saying,  as  he  thought  it,  said,  "It  is  too 
much  ;  let  me  rather  render  it,  they  shall  be  pei- 
mitted  to  kiss  his  feet."  Too  great  indeed  we 
might  have  supposed  such  privileges,  if  God 
himself  had  not  so  plainly  revealed  them.  Too 
vast  we  might  have  supposed  such  love,  if  God 
himself  had  not  so  clearly  manifested  in  the  gift 
of  Christ,  that  nothing  is  too  vast  for  love  like 
his.  If  you  remember  your  Creator  in  the  days 
of  your  youth,  he  will  manifest  all  this  love  to 
you  ;  he  will  guide  you  safely  through  a  thousand 
snares,  and  keep  you  from  those  evils  which  be- 
set your  slippery  path.  Yes,  young  man,  or 
young  woman,  many  whom  the  Lord  has  guided, 
are  already  in  heaven ;  and  many  a  thought- 
less youth  that  has  refused  his  guidance,  is  lift- 
ing up  his  eyes  in  hell,  while  you  are  reading 
these  lines.  Make  God  your  guide,  and  he  will 
guide  you  safely  to  his  eternal  kingdom;  and 
love  you  with  everlasting  kindness  there.  Then 
may  you  say,  "  This  God  is  my  God  for  ever  and 


188  LIFE    UNPROFITABLE  AND  WASTED, 

ever ;  he  will  be  my  guide  even  unto  death  ;  and 
when  my  flesh  and  heart  fail,  the  strength  of  my 
heart  and  my  portion  for  ever." 

§  10.  Another  advantage  of  early  religion  is, 
that  its  possessors  avoid  the  evil  of  an  entirely 
unprofitable  life.  When  Paul  sent  Onesimus, 
who  had  been  a  dishonest  fugitive  slave,  back  to 
his  master  Philemon,  he  spoke  of  him  as  one  that 
had  been  unprofitilble,  but  was  now  profitable  to 
the  apostle  himself,  and  to  his  former  employer. 
It  is,  my  young  friend,  an  awful  fact,  that  while 
destitute  of  early  piety,  you  answer  none  of  the 
ends  of  your  being.  You  are  unprofitable  to 
God,  for  you  bring  him  no  glory ;  you  are  un- 
profitable to  Christ,  for  you  make  him  no  thank- 
ful returns  for  all  his  dying  love.  You  are  un- 
profitable (o  the  world  around  you;  your  asso- 
ciates are  not  encouraged  by  your  example  to 
follow  the  ways  of  peace,  but,  by  your  negli- 
gence and  folly,  are  hardened  in  their  sin.  You 
are  unprofitable  to  your  dearest  relatives.  If  they 
are  the  friends  of  Christ,  instead  of  cheering  them 
by  your  piety,  your  irreligion  is  their  grief  and 
sorrow ;  and  if  they  are  unacquainted  with  the 
gospel,  instead  of  striving  to  lead  them  to  a  con- 
cern for  its  blessings,  you  go  madly  with  them 
to  destruction.  You  are  unprofitable  to  yourself; 
for,  alas!  while  negligent  of  God,  you  are  add- 
ing sin  to  sin,  and  are  making  the  heavy  load  of 
your  transgressions  heavier;  are  filling  up  the 
measure  of  your  iniquities;  and  thus  you  are 
heaping  up  wrath  against  the  day  of  wrath.  O 
wretched  youth  !  and  would  you  live  but  to  make 
your  own  hell  the  more  dreadful  ?  your  own  per- 
dition the  more  awful  ?  Would  you  live  a  cum- 
berer  of  the  srround  ?  useless  as  the  mischievous 


IF  SPENT  WITHOUT  EARLY  RELIGION.  199 

thistle  ?  baneful  as  the  deadly  nightshade  ?  and, 
in  the  sight  of  God,  more  hateful  than  the  poi- 
sonous serpent  ?  Were  it  even  certain  that  God 
would  spare  you  to  repent  at  some  future  time, 
yet,  through  mere  delay,  how  many  barren,  and 
worse  than  useless  years,  would  you  pass !  The 
late  convert  loses  much  peace  and  joy  ;  much 
holiness  and  happiness  ;  many  opportunities  of 
serving  God ;  and  much  of  that  grace,  of  which 
even  the  youngest  never  obtained  enough. 
Growth  in  grace  is  a  work  of  time.  An  infant 
does  not,  in  an  hour,  obtain  the  strength,  the 
vigour,  the  comeliness,  and  stature  of  manhood. 
Though  an  infant  has  all  the  parts  of  the  fu- 
ture man,  he  has  them  in  a  weaker  state.  The 
new  convert,  compared  with  the  confirmed  Chris- 
tian, is  like  an  infant.  He  is  in  Christ,  yet  but 
a  little  child  in  Christ.  He  is  possessed  of  the 
same  dispositions  as  the  more  confinned  Chris- 
tian, but  in  a  weaker  state  ;  and  by  the  growth 
of  years  his  graces  are  brought  nearer  to  perfec- 
tion. So  universally  is  this  the  case,  that  even 
the  apostle  Paul,  not  long  before  his  martyrdom, 
after  being  almost  thirty  years  a  Christian  and 
an  apostle;  still  declared,  that  forgetting  the 
things  that  were  behind,  he  reached  unto  those 
that  were  before  ;  and  asserted  that  he  was  not 
yet  perfect.  O,  how  much  of  divine  grace  must 
they  lose,  whose  best  years  slide  away  before  the 
work  of  life  is  begun  !•  Those  years  that  might 
be  inestimably  beneficial  to  themselves,  are  but  a 
dismal  blank ;  worse  than  a  blank,  are  years  mark- 
ed with  the  stains  of  black  ingratitude,  neglect, 
and  sin.  Should  you  delay  obeying  tlie  gospel, 
you  will  lose  much  grace  here,  and  then  may 

]  John,  ii.  2.  J2.        ^^         Phil.  iii.  12,  13. 
6* 


190      EARLY  PIETY  GLORIFIES  GOD,  AND  OFTEN 

expect  to  lose  much  glory  hereafter;  and  even  if 
a  jDardoned  penitent  at  last,  might  have  to  utter 
such  a  wish,  as  the  celebrated  Earl  of  Rochester 
is  said  to  have  uttered  ;  he  wished  that  he  had 
been  a  crawling  leper  in  a  ditch,  a  link  boy,  or 
beggar,  or  had  lived  in  a  dungeon,  rather  than 
dishonour  God  as  he  had  done. 

§  11.  But,  my  young  friend,  reverse  this  scene. 
Imagine  religion  to  be  your  early  choice  ;  Jesus 
chosen  betimes,  as  your  Lord,  and  prized  as  your 
salvation  ;  and  God  adored  as  your  God  :  and, 
O,  how  changed  do  all  things  appear !  Then 
would  you,  in  some  humble  measure,  glorify  his 
dear  name,  who  bought  you  with  his  blood. 
Then  would  you  recommend  his  gospel,  and 
display  the  influence  of  his  love.  Then,  though 
you  would  ever  feel  yourself  an  unprofitable 
servant,  an  unworthy  creature,  yet  your  five  ta- 
lents, or  two,  or  one,  would  be  employed  for  the 
honour  of  your  beloved  Lord.  One  of  our  poets 
said  of  a  departed  friend, 

**  His  virtues  walked  their  narrow  round, 
Nor  made  a  pause,  cor  left  a  void ; 

And  sure  the  eternal  Master  found 
His  single  talent  well  employ'd  !" 

If  you  have  no  more  than  one  talent,  O,  that 
hereafter  the  same  may  be  truly  said  of  you  ! 

Early  religion  would  cause  you  to  glorify 
God,  His  name  would  be  honoured  by  you ; 
his  will  done  in  you;  his  glory  promoted  in 
your  life,  and  advanced  by  your  example. 
Then  too  would  you  be  profitable  to  your  dear- 
est friends.  Are  they  pious,  how  would  they 
rejoice  over  you,  and  lay  down  their  heads  more 
calmly  in  the  dust,  when  leaving  a  beloved  child 
to  fill  up  their  place  in  the  church  of  Christ  be- 


BENEFITS  THE  FRIENDS  OF  ITS  POSSESSORS.    ID  I 

low,  when  they  depart  to  that  above  O  my 
young  friend,  if  you  have  parents  whose  prayers 
have  long-  ascended  to  God  in  youi  behalf, 
gladden  their  hearts,  by  choosing  their  God  for 
yours  ;  let  them  say  over  you  —  "This  my  son, 
or  this  my  daughter,  was  dead,  and  is  alive 
again;  was  lost,  and  is  found." 

But  perhaps  you  reply,  "My  parents  and 
friends  are  altogether  unacquainted  with  reli- 
gion ;  they  live  careless  of  God,  and  have  taught 
me  to  do  the  same."  Alas  !  if  this  is  the  case,  it 
is  a  lamentable  one ;  yet  perhaps  youthful  piety 
might  render  you  profitable  to  them.  Do  you 
love  them  ;  and  can  you  bear  the  thoughts  of  soon 
losing  them  for  ever,  or  of  meeting  them  only 
in  that  miserable  world,  where  affection  never  en- 
ters? Yet  this  must  be,  if  you  and  they  make 
light  of  Jesus  and  salvation.  Much  as  you  may 
love  each  other  now,  all  that  love  will  be  forgot- 
ten, if  you  should  together  be  banished  to  ever- 
lasting darkness  and  despair;  and  would  you 
not  save  them  from  that  dreadful  ruin  !  O  !  ii 
you  would  remember  your  Creator  in  the  days 
of  your  youth,  and  perhaps  this  may  lead  them 
to  think  of  those  things  which  belong  to  heir  ev- 
erlasting peace.  Mr.  Baxter  relates,  that  at  Kid- 
derminster, which,  under  his  ministr\%  became 
almost  "one  house  of  prayer,"  his  first  and  great- 
est success  was  upon  the  young ;  and  he  adds, 
*' when  God  had  touched  their  hearts  with  a  love 
of  goodness,  and  delightful  obedience  to  the  truth, 
their  parents  and  grandfathers,  who  had  grown 
old  in  an  ignorant,  w-orldly  state,  did  many  of 
them  fall  into  liking  and  love  of  piety ;  induced 
by  the  love  of  their  children,  whom  they  perceiv. 
ed  to  be  made  bv  it  much  wiser,  and  better,  ane 


192  EARLY   PIETY 

more  cUUiful  to  them."  Perhaps  God  might 
thus  bless  your  early  attention  to  his  gospel ;  and 
surely  if  any  thing  could  increase  your  future 
hlessedness,  it  would  do  so  to  think  that  those 
you  loved  here,  had,  through  your  early  religion, 
been  led  to  turn  from  the  way  to  hell,  and  to  en- 
ter that  to  heaven.  At  any  rate,  seek  God  for 
your  God ;  if  you  cannot  persuade  your  friends  to 
follow  Jesus  with  you,  yet  follow  him  yourself. 
That  is  indeed  an  unhappy  family,  in  which 
there  is  not  one  heir  of  heaven ;  in  which  all  are 
going  contentedly  to  destruction.  Early  conver- 
sion would  surely  be  profitable  to  yourself;  it 
would  make  all  the  blessings  that  have  been 
mentioned  as  the  Christian's  portion,  yours. 

Then  also  would  you  be  profitable  to  others. 
The  ministers  of  the  gospel  might  then  be  glad- 
dened by  you  ;  the  church  of  Christ  delight  in 
you ;  the  angels  of  heaven  rejoice  over  you. 
Perhaps,  if  spared  for  future  years,  you  may  be- 
come a  parent;  and  what  a  blessing  it  would  be 
to  your  fiimily  to  train  them  up  in  the  ways  of 
peace.  God  might  reward  your  exertions  by 
their  conversion  ;  they  might  act  the  same  part 
to  their  children  ;  and  they  again  to  theirs  ;  and 
thus  religion,  beginning  in  your  early  conversion, 
might  flow  on  in  your  family  for  ages  to  come. 
Think  not  that  this  is  an  improbable  case;  it  has 
doubtless  been  often  realized. 

§  12.  In  addition  to  the  blessings  I  have  enu- 
merated, it  is  the  happiness  of  the  real  Christian, 
that  all  events  in  life,  are  designed  as  blessings 
to  him.  All  are  meant  in  mercy,  and  all  will  end 
in  glory.  Even  afflictions  are  blessings,  bless- 
ings in  disguise.  "Whom  the  Lord  loveth  he 
chasteneth,  and  scourgeth  every  son  that  he  re- 


RENDERS  AFFLICTIONS  BLESSINGS.  193 

ceiveth.  All  things  work  together  for  good  to 
them  that  love  God.  Our  light  affliction,  which 
is  but  for  a  moment,  worketh  for  us  a  far  more 
exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of  glory."  The 
Christian  often  finds  the  path  to  heaven  mo-.t  se- 
cure, when  most  beset  with  thorns ;  and  the  sea 
of  life  safest,  when  most  stormy.  Afflictions  to 
the  children  of  God  prove  the  best  of  mercies. 
The  smiles  of  this  world  might  allure  them  to  ru- 
in ;  but  its  frowns  urge  them  towards  heaven. 
The  martyr's  flames  have  often  preceded  the 
throne  of  heavenly  joy  ;  the  crown  of  thorns  has 
been  the  forerunner  of  a  crown  of  glory ;  and 
they  have  drunk  the  most  bitter  dregs  of  griei's 
most  bitter  cup,  who  shall  hereafter  rejoice  ever- 
more. It  has  been  said,  that  on  board  a  ship, 
in  the  midst  of  a  violent  stonu,  when  the  mari- 
ners were  in  distress  and  alarm,  one  little  boy  re- 
mained composed,  and  being  asked  the  cause  of 
his  composure,  ansvv  ered,  "  JNIy  fathei*'s  at  the 
helm."  So  may  the  Christian  say  in  every  trial, 
*'My  Father,  my  Almighty  Father  is  at  the 
helm ;  and  he  will  steer  me  safe  through  every 
storm ;  or,  when  he  pleases,  say  to  the  tempest. 
Peace,  be  still !" 

§  13.  One  distinguishing  advantage  of  early 
religion  is,  that  it  prepares  the  soul  for  every 
possible  event.  By  committing  your  all  to  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  you  would  make  an  early  es- 
cape from  all  the  dreadful  danger,  to  which  you 
are  exposed  by  sin ;  and  would  obtain  an  early 
title  to  glory,  honour,  and  immortality.  Possibly 
it  may  be  the  will  of  God,  that  you  should  live 
to  threescore  years  or  more  below.  An  early 
knowledge  of  Christ  would  then  secure  to  you 

Heb.  xii.  6.  Iluui.  viii.  «3.  2  Cor,  iv.  17^ 

0- 


194  NARRATIVE   ILLUSTRATING  THE 

that  protection,  and  that  guidance,  which  woulA 
make  your  life  a  life  of  jDiety  and  peace :  happy 
would  it  be  for  you  to  live,  for  you  would  live* 
to  the  Lord.  But,  perhaps,  God  designs  only  a 
few  more  months  for  you.  If  so,  though  it  might 
be  a  happy  thing  for  you  to  live,  it  would  be  a  hap- 
pier to  die.  Possessed  of  an  interest  in  Christ, 
you  would  find  the  shortest  life  the  shortest  path 
to  heaven.  Early  death  would  be  early  blessed- 
ness. The  world  might  lament  your  early,  and, 
in  their  view,  untimely  departure ;  while  you 
were  rejoicing  in  having  gained  so  speedy  a  tri- 
umph ;  in  having  reached. 

With  sails  so  swift,  that  peaceful  shore. 


Where  tempests  never  beat,  no'r  billows  roar. 

They  who  land  there  before  they  have  passed 
even  the  short  span  of  twenty  years  in  this  world, 
will  never  wish  to  come  back  and  pass  another 
twenty  here. 

Let  me  relate  to  you  a  little  histoiy,  illustra- 
tive of  this  and  one  or  two  of  the  preceding 
sections.  Some  years  back,  in  a  village  in  Der- 
byshire, there  lived  a  young  and  thoughtless 
girl :  her  name  was  Mary.  Like  most  around 
her  she  knew  not  God.  Her  days  were  chiefly 
employed  in  a  cotton  mill;  and  if  a  holiday  came 
it  was  an  opportunity  for  vanity  and  sinful  plea- 
sure. Soon  after  she  had  completed  her  thir- 
teenth year,  the  season  for  the  wake  of  a  neigh- 
bouring village  arrived  ;  and  she  proposed  to  at- 
tend that  scene  of  dissipation  and  folly.  A 
young  woman,  who  had  herself  chosen  the  better 
part,  persuaded  Mary  to  accompany  her  to  hear 
a  sermon.  She  went.  The  place  of  preaching 
was  the  cottage  of  a  humble,  aged  Christian,  one 


BLESSEDNESS  OF  EARLY  RELIGION.  196 

of  the  Lord's  poor.  The  preacher's  subject  was. 
The  carnal  mind  is  enmity  against  God.  Mary 
listened ;  the  Lord  opened  her  heart ;  she  felt 
the  power  of  divine  truth,  in  a  way  she  had  nev- 
er done  before ;  and  left  the  house  with  feelings 
very  different  from  those,  which  she  had  on  her 
entrance.  She  had  done  with  the  wake.  She 
felt  herself  deeply  sinful  and  corrupt ;  her  mind 
was  harrowed  up  with  distress  ;  and  eternal  sal- 
vation became  the  object  of  her  desires.  Now 
farewell  to  her  former  vanities  and  follies ;  she 
forsook  them  for  ever ;  and  from  that  evening 
began  to  live  anew.  She  sought,  and  at  length 
found  peace  in  believing;  and  in  her  17th  year 
was  solemnly  admitted  into  the  church  of  Christ. 
In  this  sacred  connexion  she  adorned  religion 
by  consistent  conduct ;  she  prized  her  religious 
privileges;  was  affectionately  attached  to  her 
minister;  and  secured  the  esteem  and  regard  of 
her  Christian  friends:  abroad,  she  honoured  the 
;^ospel,  in  her  narrow  sphere;  and  at  home,  was 
ihe  comfort  of  her  parents.  A  few  months  after 
her  admission  into  the  church  of  Christ,  the 
symptoms  of  a  consumption  appeared,  and  God 
quickly  called  her  to  himself  In  her  days  of 
languishing  and  weakness,  the  Lord  was  her  sup- 
porter. She  said  that  she  found  his  promises 
sweeter  and  sweeter  ;  that  there  are  comforts  and 
delights  in  his  word,  which  none  know  but  those 
who  enjoy  them;  and  that  she  never  enjoyed  so 
many  blessings  as  during  the  time  of  her  afflic- 
tion. Death  had  lost  his  threatening  sting-.  She 
knew  in  whom  she  had  believed ;  professed 
I  wish  to  depart:  I  am  not,  said  she,  afraid  in 
the  least  of  dying  at  any  time.  At  different  times 
the  expressed  her  hope  and  peace ;  or  called  on 


196  RELIGION  THE  GOOD  PART  WHICH 

the  friends  that  surrounded  her  dying  bed,  to 
praise  her  God.  At  length  she  calmly  entered 
into  rest,  before  she  had  spent  18  years  on  earth. 
See,  my  young  friend,  how  much  the  grace  of 
God  may  do  for  them,  who  embrace  religion  in 
early  life,  even  in  a  little  time.  On  her  thir- 
teenth birth-day,  ]\Iary  was  a  thoughtless  girl; 
and  ere  her  eighteenth  could  arrive,  a  saint  in 
light.  Within  the  intervening  span  of  something 
more  than  four  short  years,  she  was  enabled  to 
forsake  the  world  ;  to  find  a  Saviour  ;  to  profess 
his  gospel;  to  honour  that  profession;  to  lan- 
guish calmly  through  months  of  sickness ;  to 
conquer  death;  and  doubtless  land  in  heaven. 
In  that  little  time  she  found  her  Lord  ;  finished 
his  will,  and  went  to  rest.  How  blessed  was  ear- 
ly piety  to  her !  She  might  w'hen  first  awaken- 
ed, have  said,  "I  am  not  yet  fourteen,  surely  here- 
after will  be  soon  enough  for  me;"  and  had  she 
reasoned  thus,  and  had  she  put  off,  though  but 
for  a  few  years,  her  inquiry  for  salvation,  God,  it 
seems,  by  early  death,  would  have  put  it  off  for 
ever.  Delay  not  then  to  accept  that  blessing 
which  is  the  source  of  every  other;  your  life  is 
as  uncertain  as  was  hers. 

§  14.  One  inestimable  advantage  attending  the 
blessings  which  early  religion  would  give  you  is, 
that  these  shall  never  be  taken  away  from  their 
possessors.  Mary,  said  the  Lord,  hath  chosen  that 
good  fart,  tvhich  shall  not  be  taken  aivay  from  her. 
As  for  the  lovers  of  this  world,  their  all  is  here, 
and  shortly  their  all  will  be  for  ever  lost  to  them. 
Soon  may  it  be  said  of  the  young,  the  vigorous, 
and  the  gay,  who  know  not  God,  Where  are  they  ? 
Gone  from  the  world  they  loved  so  well.  Where 
their  health,  and  youthful  bloom  ?    Gone !  for 


SHALL  NEVER  BE  TAKEN  AWAY.  197 

ever  gone  1  Where  their  gaiety  and  delights,  their 
hours  of  thoughtless  merriment,  their  frivolous 
amusements,  their  vain  companions  ?  All  gone. 
There  is  not  one  earthly  treasure,  of  whicli  its 
possessors  can  affirm,  that  none  shall  separate 
ihem  from  it.  Alas  !  poor  creatures,  ye  gay,  ye 
wealthy,  ye  lovers  of  pleasure,  "  what  vain  things 
are  they,  that  you  embrace  and  cleave  to  !  What- 
soever they  be,  soon  must  you  part.  Can  you 
say  of  any  of  these.  Who  shall  separate  us? 
Nay,  you  may  even  live  to  see,  and  seek  your 
parting.  At  last  you  must  j^art,  for  you  must 
die :  then  farewell  to  vanity,  merriment,  and  plea- 
sure ;  farewell,  if  you  had  even  sat  on  thrones, 
to  parks  and  palaces,  gardens  and  honours, 
crowns  and  kingdoms,  dearest  friends  and  near- 
est kindred,  all  must  be  parted  with,  and  what 
have  you  besides  ?"  If  you,  my  young  reader, 
are  a  lover  of  this  world,  what  will  you  have  left 
soon  ?  But  if  a  possessor  of  early  religion,  you 
may  say,  "Not  thus  fleeting  are  my  treasures. 
Thou  art  my  portion,  0  Lord ;  others  have  parks, 
palaces,  and  crowns  ;  or  wealth,  gaiety,  and  plea- 
sure; this  is  their  portion  :  but  thou,  the  God  of 
heaven  and  earth,  art  mine  ;  and  mine  for  ever. 
When  the  miser  shall  have  lost  his  wealth,  and 
crowns  have  fallen  from  the  heads  that  wear 
them ;  when  the  man  of  this  world  shall  have 
left  the  world  he  idolized,  and  all  their  delights 
shall  have  forsaken  the  yaung,  the  pleasure-tak- 
ing, and  the  gay  —  thou  wilt  still  be  mine  :  thou 
wilt  be  my  support,  when  rocks  crumble  into 
dust,  and  mountains  tremble  to  their  base  ;  and 
when  the  sun  shall  shine  no  more  ;  and  when 
the  earth  itself  shall  have  vanished  like  a  falling 


198  MEDITATIONS  ON  THE 

Star,  that  blazes  and  expires  —  thou  wilt  be  mine 
<5til],  my  God,  and  my  portion  for  ever." 

And  now,  were  it  possible  to  call  from  the  dead 
some  that  have  died  in  youth,  O,  what  a  confir- 
mation would  they  give,  to  all  that  has  been  urg- 
ed upon  you  here !  They  who  have  followed 
Jesus  while  young,  might  say  to  you,  "  Follow 
him  we  followed  We  soon  embraced  his  gos- 
pel, yet  not  one  hour  too  soon^  Early  as  we  be- 
gan with  religion,  we  began  much  too  lale  ;  and 
could  we  have  felt  grief  in  heaven,  we  should  have 
grieved,  that  we  did  not  sooner  know,  and  love, 
and  serve  our  Lord.  Death  cut  us  down  in  the 
morning  of  our  days,  yet  we  did  not  die  too  soon; 
for  we  nad  bowed  betimes  at  the  feet  of  Jesus; 
and  had  found  eternal  life  in  him.  He  washed 
our  sins  away  ;  he  renewed  our  hearts  ;  and  pre- 
pared heaven  for  us,  and  us  for  heaven.  He 
taught  us  to  set  our  affections  on  things  above. 
We  saw  others  engaged  with  all  their  hearts,  in 
the  shadowy  concerns  of  time  ;  we  pitied  them, 
and  trod  the  path  of  life.  We  smiled  in  death. 
Divine  grace  made  us  conquerors  over  the  grave; 
and  now  we  rest  from  all  our  labours.  Heaven 
is  a  long,  long,  happy  home.  Follow  our  Lord, 
and  he  will  be  your  Lord.  Receive  him,  and  he 
will  receive  you.  Commit  your  souls  to  him, 
and  all  will  be  well  with  you,  for  time  and  for 
eternity.^' 

A   MEDITATION  ON   THE  SUBJECT  OF  THE  CHAPTER, 
CONCLUDED  WITH  PRAYER. 

Come,  O  my  soul,  and  in  serious  meditation, 
again  review  these  pleasing  motives  for  yielding 
thyself,  thy  all,  to  God.  I  am  passing  through 
the  world  like  an  eagle  through  the  air.     I  am 


ADVANTAGES  OF  EARLY  PIETY.  109 

young-,  but  youth  and  health  have  vanished  from 
millions,  and-xvill  soon  vanish  from  me.  Could 
I  now  gain  the  throne  and  become  the  ruler  of 
this  mighty  kingdom,  yet,  in  a  little  while,  a 
throne  and  a  kingdom  would  be  of  no  importance 
to  me;  but  I  hear  of  things  that  will  concern  me 
for  ever,  of  blessings  that  may-  enrich  me  for 
ever.  I  hear  of  treasures  of  eternal  worth ;  trea- 
sures, like  those  which  angels  enjoy,  and  which 
make  even  angels  happy.  Thrones  and  king- 
doms upon  earth  never  will  be  mine,  even  for  a 
fleeting  hour;  but  these  far  better  riches  may  be 
mine  "  when  rolling  years  shall  cease  to  move  ;" 
these  may  be  mine  through  one  eternal  day.  O, 
let  me  glance  again  at  this  list  of  blessings !  For- 
giveness, how  much  I  need  it!  Forgiveness  so 
free,  and  full,  and  entire,  that  though  my  sins  are 
as  scarlet  they  shall  be  white  as  snow. — Peace 
with  God;  peace  even  in  this  troublesome  world ; 
peace  far  above  all  that  earth  can  impart,  and 
which  "nothing  earthly  gives  or  can  destroy."  — 
The  love  of  Jesus;  love,  stronger  than  death,  and 
more  lasting  than  time;  love,  which  was  mani- 
fested/or me  when  he  groaned  on  Calvary;  and 
love,  which  would  be  manifested  to  me,  infinite 
years  beyond  the  day,  when  it  shall  be  said.  The 
judgment  is  finished,  the  world,  the  sun,  the  stars, 
are  no  more.  Adoption  into  the  family  of  God, 
and  the  privilege  of  becoming  a  child  of  the 
Most  High  ;  the  dear  object  of  his  eternal  love. 
O,  precious  blessing!  what  more  precious  can 
even  an  archangel  possess!  what  higher  privi- 
lege! what  nobler  honour!  Can  he  go  higher 
than  to  say,  I  am  a  child  of  God  ?  O  my  soul, 
wonder  and  adore !  The  highest  distinctions  of 
archangels  themselves  may  be  thine ;   and  thou 


200  MEDITATIONS  ON  THE  ADVANTAGES 

raayst  have  the  privilege  of  saying,  Now,  even 
in  this  dying  world,  am  T  a  child  of  God  ;  and  it 
doth  not  yet  appear  what  I  shall  be,  but  I  know, 
that  when  he  shall  appear,  I  shall  be  like  him, 
and  see  him  as  he  is.  —  Even  here,  I  may  enjoy 
his  kindness  and  his  care  ;  know  him  as  my. 
father,  and  rejoice  in  him  as  my  portion;  even 
here,  may  have  an  interest  in  all  his  exceeding 
great  and  precious  promises  ;  and  in  the  heights, 
and  depths,  and  lengths,  and  breadths,  of"  his 
immeasurable  and  everlasting  love.  Even  here, 
I  may  look  to  Jesus  as  my  elder  brother,  my 
friend,  my  Saviour,  my  Shepherd,  my  forerun- 
ner, my  guide,  my  guard,  my  boast,  my  bliss,  my 
King,  my  God.  But,  beyond  all  the  scenes  of 
time,  his  word  reveals  a  brighter  world.  There 
I  may  possess  an  inheritance,  incorruptible,  uu- 
defiled,  and  that  fadeth  not  away;  an  inherit- 
ance, compared  with  whose  pure  delights,  the 
sweetest  earthly  pleasure  is  but  bitter  pain ; 
compared  widi  whose  wealth,  the  treasures  of 
kings  are  poverty  itself;  and  compared  with 
whose  duration,  ten  thousand  times  ten  thousand 
years  are  as  the  twinkling  of  an  eye.  All  this,  and 
infinitely  more  than  any  tongue  can  express,  or 
heart  can  conceive,  I  may  possess.  When  Jesus 
invites  me  to  go  to  him,  and  take  his  yoke,  he 
invites  me  to  make  all  this  my  own.  And  canst 
thou  hesitate,  O  my  soul,  or  canst  thou  delay  ? 
Shall  I  refuse  so  kind  an  invitation  ?  Shall  I 
lose  all  these  eternal  treasures,  for  the  things  of 
a  moment,  that  perish  in  the  using?  O,  let  me 
not  act  so  base,  so  foolish,  so  unprofitable  a  part ! 
I  see,  indeed,  that  godliness  is  profitable  for  all 
things;  and  would  be  infinitely  profitable  to  me. 
Without  it  I  had  better  never  have  been  born. 


OF  EARLY  PIETY,  AND  PRAYER.  201 

Without  it  I  must  be  a  mere  cumberer  of  the 
ground.  Then  my  very  being  would  be  a  curse 
to  myself;  and  I  should  be  a  curse  to  my  friends, 
and  a  curse  to  the  world ;  but  with  it,  in  my 
humble  sphere,  I  should  be  enabled  to  glorify 
my  God  ;  I  should  live  to  my  blessed  Redeemer ; 
and  might  die  leaning,  as  it  were,  my  languishing 
head  for  support  upon  his  Almighty  arm. 

Great  and  blessed  God,  from  revolving  these 
things  in  my  mind,  to  thee  would  I  turn.  O,  let 
them  not  be  lost  upon  me ;  let  these  precious 
blessings  all  be  mine.  Deny  me  other  treasures, 
if  thou  wilt  but  give  me  these.  Let  me  "  win 
Christ,"  and  know  him  as  mine;  and  know  all 
the  blessings  which  flow  from  his  love,  either  on 
earth,  or  in  heaven,  as  also  mine.  Give  me  the 
comfort  of  hope  ;  the  assurance  of  faith  ;  and  the 
heaven  of  holy  love;  that  heaven  in  the  soul,  on 
earth,  which  is  the  forerunner  and  the  earnest  of 
an  eternal  heaven  within  me,  and  around  me, 
when  time  shall  be  no  more.  Let  me  not  have 
merely  a  wavering  hope,  but  a  strong  unshaken 
confidence  that  thou  art  my  God;  that  thy  prom- 
ises are  my  charter  ;  thy  love  my  portion ;  thy 
kingdom  my  inheritance.  While  early  religion 
is  thus  profitable  and  honourable,  and  desirable, 
let  it  be  my  immediate  choice.  Let  me  not,  by 
delay,  make  repentance  more  bitter,  and  conver- 
sion more  difficult ;  but  may  I  feel  true  humility 
and  sorrow  for  having  wasted,  and  worse  than 
wasted,  so  much  of  my  life;  and  again,  let  me 
entreat  thee  to  give  me  grace,  gladly  to  yield  the 
rest  to  thee  ;  or  if,  O  compassionate  Father,  thou 
seest  that  I  have  been  led  to  this  happy  choice, 
then,  confirm  me  in  it,  and  never  let  sin  or  the 
world  divide  the  bands  which  bind  my  soul  to 


202  EARLY  PIETY  THE  ^ 

thee ;  but  may  I  be  blest  in  Jesus,  and  humbly 
^fid  faithfully  cleave  to  him.  Grant  me  but 
these  blessings,  and  then  make  whatever  pleases 
thee,  welcome  to  me.  Let  afflictions  be  welcome, 
as  the  chastisement  of  thy  hand ;  and  pain,  as 
sent  to  meeten  me  for  the  rest,  where  there  shall 
be  no  more  pain.  If  thou  art  pleased  to  prolong 
my  days,  let  life  be  welcome  for  the  sake  of  liv- 
ing to  my  Lord.  But  if  thou  hast  determined 
otherwise  respecting  me,  if  a  few  weeks  or  months 
are  to  finish  my  pilgrimage  below,  let  even  early 
death  be  welcome,  as  a  speedier  removal  to  eter- 
nal life;  and  let  those  years,  which  are  taken 
from  my  mortal  course,  be  added  to  that  eternal 
day,  to  which  thou  hast  promised  to  conduct  all 
the  humble  followers  of  thy  Son.  Great  God, 
thou  seest  nothing  in  me,  to  add  weight  to  these 
requests ;  and  never  wilt  thou  see  such  worthi- 
ness in  a  creature  so  unworthy  ;  but  grant  them 
for  his  sake  whose  blood  was  shed  to  wash  away 
my  sins.     Amen. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

THE  PLEASANTNESS  OF  EARLY  PIETY. 

*'  On  parent  knees,  a  helpless,  newborn  child, 
Weeping  thou  sat'st,  while  all  around  thee  smil'd  j 
So  live,  that,  sinking  in  thy  last  long  sleep, 
Calm  thou  mayst  smile,  when  all  around  thee  weep." 

§  I.  As  another  reason  for  early  piety,  glance 
at  some  of  the  pleasures  which  true  religion 
yields.  It  is  the  common  delusion  of  the  world, 
that  religion  is  a  melancholy  thing;  unsuitable 
to  the  young  and  sprightly;  and  of  such  a  na- 


SOURCE  OF  GENUINE  PLEASURE.      203 

tuie  that  it  would  blast  all  their  pleasures,  and 
render  their  lives  dark  and  dreary.  The  word 
of  God,  on  the  other  hand,  describes  true  reli- 
gion as  the  only  source  of  real  comfort.  It  is 
the  only  remains  of  Paradise  below.  That  holy 
Book  declares,  that  "the  ways  of  wisdom  are 
ways  of  pleasantness,  and  that  all  her  paths  are 
peace."  It  also  tells  us  of  "joy  and  peace  in 
believing;"  of  "rejoicing  in  God;"  "rejoicing 
in  the  Lord  always;"  of  "rejoicing"  in  Christ, 
"with  joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory;"  of 
"  delighting"  in  "  the  Lord."  The  scriptures  re- 
present it  as  the  Christian's  portion  to  possess 
"a  peace  which  passeth  all  understanding;"  "if 
sorrowful,"  to  be  "always  rejoicing;"  to  "glory 
even  in  tribulation ;"  and  even  if  "  the  fig-tree 
should  not  blossom,  and  there  should  be  no  fruit 
in  the  vine,"  if  the  "labour  of  the  olive  should 
fail,  and  the  fields  should  yield  no  meat,"  if  the 
"flocks  should  be  cut  off  from  the  fold,  and 
there  should  be  no  herd  in  the  stall ;"  if,  in  short, 
famine  and  desolation  were  ravaging  all  around, 
still  to  "rejoice  in  the  Lord,  and  joy  in  the  God 
of  his  salvation." 

§  2.  If,  after  this,  you  wish  for  human  testimo- 
nies, to  the  comforts  which  true  piety  aflbrds,  you 
may  have  them  in  abundance.  Not  that  you 
should  ask  the  men  of  the  world.  This  would 
be  as  absurd  as  to  request  a  man  born  blind,  to 
describe  the  beauties  of  a  fine  prospect.  As  he, 
who  never  saw,  cannot  tell  what  pleasures  sight 
affords  ;  as  he  who  never  heard,  cannot  describe 
the  delights  which  music  yields  its  admirers  ;  no 
more  can  they,  who  never  knew  religion,  tell  you 

Piov.  iii.  17.  Rom.  xv.  13.  Rom.  v.  2.  Phil.  ir.  4.  1  Peter,  i.  P. 
Pe.  xxxvii.  4.  Phil.  iv.  7.  2  Cor.  vi.  10.  Rom.  v.  3.  Habak.  iii.  17, 18. 


204  PLEASURES  OF  PIETY. 

what  its  pleasures  are.  But  would  you  know 
whether  religion  is  the  best  source  of  happiness, 
ask  those  who  possess  it  in  reality.  How  many 
such  would  tell  you,  they  never  knew  what  true 
delight  was,  till  they  found  it  in  religion !  How 
many  such  would  unite  their  testimony  with  that 
of  a  young  person,  known  to  the  writer,  on  the 
evening  after  her  solemn  admission  into  the 
church  of  Christ,  "  This  has  been  a  happy  day 
to  me  ;  I  hope  I  shall  be  faithful  unto  death,  and 
then  my  last  will  be  a  happier !" 

§  3.  True  religion,  though  it  forbids  conformi- 
ty to  this  world,  and  directs  you  to  set  your  af- 
fections on  the  things  above,  yet  forbids  no  law- 
ful use  of  the  innocent  comforts  of  earth  and 
time.  It  is  true,  it  denies  you  the  play-house, 
that  hot-bed  of  vice,  the  licentious  romance,  the 
silly  novel,  and  those  scenes  of  worldly  revelry, 
which  a  poor  deceived  world  call  happiness ;  yet 
these  are  not  sources  of  real  happiness,  even  to 
those  who  love  them  so  well.  On  one  occasion, 
when  some  of  Colonel  Gardiner's  dissolute  com- 
panions were  congratulating  him  on  his  happi- 
ness in  licentious  dissipation,  a  dog  happened  to 
come  into  the  room,  and  he  could  not  forbear 
groaning  inwardly,  and  saying  to  himself,  "  O 
that  I  were  that  dog  !"  Such  was  his  happiness, 
and  such  is  doubtless  that  of  thousands  more. 
Early  piety  would  give  you  the  best  pleasures. 
Through  the  knowledge  of  Jesus  you  would  have 
peace.  Peace  within.  Conscience,  that  else 
must  be  a  troublesome  monitor,  would  become 
a  delightful  friend  ;  while  the  Holy  Spirit  would 
witness  with  your  spirit  that  you  are  a  child  of 
God.     Peace  with  God  is  another  source  of  true 

Rom.  viii.  IG. 


PEACE,   AND  COMMUNION  WITH   GOD.         205 

delight,  and  this  too  would  be  yours  ;  you  might 
look  on  the  ^Most  High  as  a  tender  Father,  and 
beloved  friend,  while  to  the  careless  sinner  he  is 
a  dreadful  foe. 

§  4.  Early  piety  would  open  to  you  another 
fountain  of  real  pleasure,  by  forming  your  heart 
for  the  enjoyment  of  delights,  far,  far  superior  to 
those  of  sense.  In  communion  with  God,  in 
meditation  on  divine  promises  and  love,  the 
Christian  has  those  pleasures  which  he  would 
not  exchange  for  all  the  pleasures  of  the  world. 
Even  his  tears  of  penitential  grief  afford  him 
more  sincere  delight,  than  they  find  in  all  their 
noisy  mirth.  The  public,  as  well  as  the  private 
services  of  religion,  also  yield  true  delight  to 
those,  who,  partaking  of  renewing  grace,  are  capa- 
ble of  relishing  the  sacred  pleasure.  Hear  how 
one  who  knew  these  pleasures,  could  express  his 
feelings,  ''How  amiable  are  thy  tabernacles,  O 
Lord  of  Hosts  !  My  soul  longeth,  yea,  even 
fainteth,  for  the  courts  of  the  Lord ;  my  heart 
and  my  flesh  cry  out  for  the  living  God.  Blessed 
are  they  that  dwell  in  thy  house :  they  will  be 
still  praising  thee.  For  a  day  in  thy  courts  is 
better  than  a  thousand.  I  had  rather  be  a  door- 
keeper in  the  house  of  my  God,  than  to  dv.ell  in 
the  tents  of  wickedness.  O  God,  thou  art  my 
God;  early  will  I  seek  thee:  my  soul  thirsteth 
for  thee,  my  flesh  longeth  for  thee  in  a  dry  and 
thirsty  land,  where  no  water  is;  to  see  thy  pow- 
er and  thy  glory,  so  as  I  have  seen  thee  in  the 
sanctuary.  Because  thy  loving-kindness  is  bet- 
ter than  life,  my  lips  shall  praise  thee.  Thus 
will  I  bless  thee  while  I  live ;  1  will  lift  up  my 
hands  in  thy  name." 

Ps.  Ixxxiv.  1,  2,  4,  10.  Ixiii.  1  —  4. 


206  PLF.ASURF.S   OF   PJF.TY THE  BEST 

§  5.  In  various  other  respects  the  ways  of  wis- 
dom are  ways  of  pleasantness.  Is  it  pleasing  to 
think  of  dangers  escaped  ?  early  religion  would 
o-ive  you  this  satisfaction.  You  might,  with  won- 
der and  delight,  reflect  that  God  had  snatched 
5'ou  from  perdition,  and  that  though  once  an  heir 
of  wrath,  the  danger  were  over,  and  you  an  heir 
of  heaven.  Is  it  pleasant  to  think  of  treasures 
obtained  and  friends  possessed?  This  pleasure 
would  be  yours.  You  might  read  the  long  cata- 
logue of  the  Christian's  blessings,  and  say  of 
each,  "This  is  mine.  This  promise  is  made  to 
me."  You  might  look  upwards  to  the  abodes  of 
bliss,  and  exclaim,  "There  dv/ells  the  ever- bless- 
ed Jehovah,  and  he  is  my  God.  There  is  the 
adored  Immanuel,  and  he  is  my  Saviour.  Those 
bright  abodes,  which  lie  far  beyond  the  reach  ot 
mortal  sight,  are  my  future  home.  The  stars 
that  adorn  that  spangled  firmament, 

'Are  glittering-  dust  beneath  the  feet 

Of  those  who  dwell  with  God.'" 
In  health  and  prosperity  you  might  say,  "God 
gives  me  much  here,  but  how  much  more  have  I 
hereafter;  how  much  better  are  my  treasures 
there!"  Or  in  poverty,  sickness,  and  pain,  you 
might  smile  and  say,  "My  all  is  not  laid  here." 
Sweet  is  it  for  a  seaman,  that  has  escaped  the 
storm,  fixed  on  a  rock,  to  smile  on  the  waves  that 
are  beating  beneath  ;  ]>ut  O,  it  is  far  more  sweet  to 
smile  at  all  the  terrors  of  time,  as  vanquished 
enemies  and  baffled  foes  !  Who  should  be  so 
happy  as  thej^,  who  have  a  humble  confidence 
that  eternal  happiness  is  theirs  ?  Who  should 
enjoy  such  peace  as  they  who  can  look  at  death 
without  fear,  and  view  it  as  the  path  that  leads 
their  souls  to  God,  to  Jesus,  to  heaven;  to  glory. 


BLESSINGS,  AND  THE  BRIGHTEST  HOPE?.     207 

endless  as  that  of  their  Creator ;  and  to  happi- 
ness more  real  than  sorrows  are  below !  Who 
should  possess  such  solid  comforts,  as  they  who 
can  turn  their  eyes  to  the  grave,  and  dread  not 
the  prospect  of  lying  there ;  who  can  raise  their 
thoughts  to  the  starry  heavens,  and  rapturously 
consider,  that  they  shall  outlive  these  glorious 
fires,  and  shine,  adorned  with  brighter  glories, 
when  stars  and  sun  shall  shine  no  more  !  Who 
should  be  so  happy  as  they,  who  can  contemplate 
without  dread,  that  solemn  period,  when  the 
world  shall  burn ;  the  trumpet  sound  ;  the  Judge 
descend  ;  the  dead  awake ;  and  happiness  or  mis- 
ery inexpressible,  unchangeable,  and  eternal,  be- 
come the  lot  of  every  human  being !  Go  and 
look  into  an  open  grave,  try  to  fancy  it  opened 
for  you,  and  see  whether  you  can  imagine  this 
with  peace  and  composure.  If  you  cannot,  learn 
that  all  your  delights  do  not  make  you  happy, 
for  into  the  dreaded  grave  you  must  ere  long  de- 
scend; and  thousands  possessed  of  the  blessings 
of  humble  piety,  have  trodden  that  gloomy  path 
with  satisfaction ;  and  desired  to  depart  and  be 
with  Christ. 

Is  it  pleasant  thus  to  look  forward,  with  sweet 
anticipation,  to  future  scenes  of  happiness? 
This  source  of  pleasure  would  become  yours,  if 
a  possessor  of  early  piet3^  Is  it  pleasant  to  have 
a  friend  ready  to  welcome  us  when  a  long  jour- 
ney is  ended?  Jesus  is  the  young  Christian's 
friend,  he  waits  on  the  distant  shore  of  heaven. 
In  their  passage  through  the  river  of  death  he 
will  uphold  his  humble  friends;  and  welcome 
them  to  glory  on  their  arrival  there.  The  Chris- 
tian too,  indulges  the  pleasing  hope  of  reunion 
there,  with  the  pious  friends  he  has  loved  below. 


208       PLEASURES  OF  PIETY  —  THE   HOPE  OF 

He  can  contemplate  llie  happy  bands  above. 
Patriarclis  and  prophets,  apostles  and  martyrs, 
and  numbers  to  the  world  unknown,  who  have 
loved  the  Lord,  and  won  the  promised  crown; 
and  among  them  he  perhaps  enumerates  some, 
once  dear,  still  dear  to  himself,  who  have  finish- 
ed their  pilgrimage,  and  whom  he  hopes  to  meet 
again,  when  he  shall  finish  his.  O  happy  meet- 
ing !  O  blissful  prospect !  Would  not  you  pos- 
sess it  ?  and  when  you  reach  the  close  of  life, 
do  not  you  desire  the  pleasure  of  panting  for  the 
skies  ?  the  pleasure  of  being  able  to  appeal  to 
the  Lord,  that  you  have  humbly  loved  himf* 
Do  you  not  wish  to  say  at  last,  "  Gracious  Re- 
deemer, on  thee  I  rest  my  hopes ;  my  best  obe- 
dience has  been  too  imperfect;  my  most  faithful 
duties  stained  with  too  much  imperfection  ;  my 
love  too  cold  ;  my  thankfulness  too  weak  ;  yet  I 
expect  eternal  life,  for  it  was  23urchased  for  me 
by  thy  blood.  I  look  to  heaven  ;  it  was  secured 
for  me  by  thy  merits,  thy  sufferings,  and  thy 
death.  Gracious  Lord,  thine  be  the  honour 
while  the  infinite  advantage  is  mine.  It  yields 
me  pleasure  now  to  know,  that  thou  seest  that  I 
love  thee ;  and  have  loved  thee,  from  my  early 
days.  Thou  hast  seen  me  truly  thine,  imperfect 
as  I  am  ;  and  though  I  have  often  offended  thee, 
yet  I  bless  thy  name  that  I  have  been  kept  from 
dishonouring  thee,  by  those  numerous  and  dark 
crimes,  which  I  should  have  committed  if  I  had 
not  remembered  thee  betimes.  Though  I  have 
not  done  my  duty,  and  am  an  unprofitable  ser- 
vant, so  short  ot  thy  claims  have  been  the  ser- 
vices of  my  youth,  and  those  of  iT;iy  riper  years ; 
yefl  look  forward  with  joyful  hope  to  the  time 
when  T  shall  see  thee  as  thou  art !  and  though 


HEAVEN  —  COMFORT  IN  AFFLICTION.  209 

my  time  is  almost  finished,  yet  I  rejoice  in  the 
sweet  prospect  of  passing  eternity  in  thy  pres- 
ence, and  there  will  I  cast  at  thy  ieet  that  crown 
which  I  have  in  expectation,  and  which  was 
bought  with  thy  blood.'* 

§  6.  True  piety  is  pleasant,  for  it  is  a  source 
of  pleasure  even  in  the  midst  of  pain.  INIan  is 
born  to  sorrow  as  the  sparks  fly  upwards ;  and 
though  many  young  persons  seem  to  suppose 
that  that  world  which  has  been  a  storm  to  others 
shall  be  a  calm  to  them,  yet  experience  soon  re- 
moves the  delusion.  No  situation  on  earth  can 
give  perfect  peace.  Even  the  most  peaceful  and 
happy  dwellings,  w^here  love  and  harmony  ever 
abide,  cannot  supply  that  blessing,  for  into  them 
pain  has  its  avenue,  and  death  its  entrance; 
death,  that  dissolves  the  fondest  ties,  and  takes 
away  the  life  that  is  dearer  than  our  own.  But 
no  affliction  can  befall  the  true  Christian,  under 
which  his  Redeemer  will  not  give  him  suitable 
support  and  consolation.  A  gentleman  was  in- 
vited to  visit  an  indigent  man  deeply  afflicted  ; 
and  gave  the  following  account  of  what  he  wit- 
nessed: "  On  entering  the  cottage,  I  found  him 
alone,  bis  wife  having  gone  to  procure  him  milk 
from  a  kind  neighbour.  I  was  startled  at  the 
sight  of  a  pale  emaciated  man,  a  living  image  of 
death,  fastened  upright  in  a  chair,  by  a  rude  me- 
chanism of  cords  and  belts,  hanging  from  the 
ceiling.  He  was  totally  unable  to  move  either 
hand  or  foot,  having  more  than  four  years  been 
entirely  deprived  of  the  use  of  his  limbs,  yet  the 
whole  time  suffering  extreme  anguish  from  swell- 
ings at  all  his  joints.  I  asked,  "Are  you  left 
alone,  my  friend,  in  this  deplorable  situation  P" 
"No,  Sir,"  replied  he,  in  a  touchingly  feeble  tone 


210  PLEASURES  OF   EARLY  PIETY 

of  mild  resignation,  "  I  am  not  alone,  for  Cod  h 
luith  me."  I  asked  him  if  he  ever  ft-lt  tei-nj)ied 
to  repine  under  the  pressure  of  so  long-coniinu- 
ed  and  heavy  a  calamity  ?  "  Not  for  the  lant  ilirefi 
years''  said  he,  "blessed  be  God  for  it  I"  the  eye 
of  faith  sparkling-,  and  giving  life  to  his  pallid 
countenance,  while  he  made  the  declaration  ; 
"for  I  have  learned  from  this  book  in  whom  to 
believe;  and  though  I  am  aware  of  my  weakness 
and  unworthiness,  I  am  persuaded  that  he  will 
not  leave  me  nor  forsake  me.  And  so  it  is,  that 
when  my  lips  are  closed  with  locked-jaw,  and  I 
cannot  speak  to  the  glory  of  God,  he  enables  me 
to  sing  his  praises  in  my  heart.'" 

§  7,  My  young  friend,  are  not  such  hopes, 
such  prospects  as  have  been  mentioned,  sources 
of  real  pleasure  ?  If  you  are  a  follower  of  the 
world,  what  is  there  in  all  your  vain  delights,  that 
can  bear  any  comparison  with  that  holy  peace, 
that  pure  delight  which  flow  from  the  love  of 
God,  and  a  hope  full  of  immortality?  If  you 
yourself  perceive  no  charms  in  these  pleasures, 
ask  those  who  have  tried  them,  what  support  and 
delight  they  yield  even  in  the  last  awful  hours 
of  life.  Go  to  the  sick-bed  of  the  humble  believ- 
er, say,  "  Poor  sufferer,  can  you  find  comfort  in 
the  midst  of  anguish  ?"  "  Yes,"  says  one, "  I  have 
pain,  but  I  have  peace,  T  have  peace."*  "What, 
can  you  contemplate  death  itself  with  comfort  P" 
"Yes,"  replies  another,  "I  bless  God  I  can  lie 
down  with  comfort  at  night,  not  being  solicitous 
whether  I  awake  in  this  world  or  another."f  But 
they  who  made  these  declarations  had  reached 
advanced  life.  Go  then  to  the  sick-bed  of  the 
dying  youth  ;  ask  him,  "  Can  you  feel  any  plca- 

*  Baxter  +  VVivtts. 


IN  THE  DAY  OF  DEATH.  211 

sure,  while  sickness  blasts  all  the  joyous  pros- 
pects which  the  young  possess,  antl  threatens 
you  with  an  early  tomb?"  Let  one  reply  who 
being  dead,  yet  speaks,  "O,  that  I  could  but  let 
you  know  what  I  now  feel  I  O,  that  I  could  show 
you  what  I  see !  O,  that  I  could  express  the  thou- 
sandth part  of  that  sweetness  that  I  now  find  in 
Christ!  you  would  all  then  think  it  well  worth 
while  to  make  it  your  business  to  be  religious. 
O,  my  dear  friends,  you  little  think  what  Christ 
is  worth  upon  a  death-bed.  I  would  not,  for  a 
world,  nay,  for  millions  of  worlds,  be  now  with- 
out Christ  and  a  pardon.  I  would  not  for  a 
world  live  any  longer :  the  very  thought  of  a  pos- 
sibility of  recovery  makes  me  even  tremble. 
Come,  Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly.  Death,  do 
thy  worst.  Death  hath  lost  its  terribleness. 
Death,  it  is  nothing.  Death  is  nothing  (through 
grace)  to  me.  I  can  as  easily  die  as  shut  my 
eyes;  or  turn  my  head  and  sleep;  I  long  to  be 
with  Christ;  I  long  to  die.  O,  that  you  did  but 
see  and  feel  what  I  do !  Come  and  behold  a  dy- 
ing man  more  cheerful  than  ever  you  saw  any 
healthful  man  in  the  midst  of  his  sweetest  enjoy- 
ments. O  Sirs,  worldly  pleasures  are  pitiful, 
poor,  sorry  things,  compared  with  one  glimpse 
of  this  glory,  which  shines  so  strongly  into  my 
soul !  O,  why  should  any  of  you  be  so  sad,  when 
I  am  so  glad  ?  This,  this  is  the  hour  that  I  have 
waited  for."*  Or  now  ask  the  pious  young  wo- 
man, who,  while  others  of  her  age  are  flaunting 
away  in  vanity  and  folly,  lies  on  the  bed  of  pain 
and  suffering.  Say  to  her,  "Is  religion  pleasant 
in  your  esteem?"  "Yes,"  she  might  reply,  "yes, 
1  am  very  happy:   I  would  not  change  situation 

*  Janeway. 


212         PRAYER,  IMPLORING  THE  PLEASURES 

with  any  one  living.  Do  not  weep  for  me  :  I 
have  no  wish  to  live ;  if  I  might  have  life  by- 
wishing  for  it,  I  should  rather  choose  to  die,  and 
go  to  my  Redeemer."  ''I  long  to  go  home." 
*'I  am  truly  happy,  and  if  this  be  dying,  it  is  a 
pleasant  thing  to  die."  "Not  for  all  the  world, 
not  for  a  thousand  worlds  would  I  be  restored  to 
health."*  The  purport  of  these  expressions  was 
actually  uttered  by  two  young  ladies,  neither  of 
whom  completed  her  sixteenth  year.  O  happy 
they  who  learn  so  soon,  so  well  to  die!  And 
could  you  follow  these  to  the  triumphant  family 
above,  and  see  that  glory  which  no  heart  con- 
ceives, then  might  a  heavenly  voice  say  to  you, 
''Hither  lead  the  despised  and  neglected,  but 
pleasant  paths  of  early  piety."  Mv  young  friend, 
shall  they  lead  you  there?  Can  you  be  truly 
happy  in  any  other  way?  Can  you  be  happy 
too  soon  in  this  ?  Seek  happiness,"  then  at  once  ; 
O,  seek  it  in  the  love  of  your  Redeemer,  and  the 
favour  of  your  God. 

A  PRAYER,  IMPLORING  THE  PLEASURES  OF  EARLY 
RELIGION. 

Ever  blessed  God,  thou  art  thyself  infinitely 
happy;  thy  presence  gladdens  the  holy  hosts  of 
heaven  ;  and  thy  word-  discovers  the  way  by 
which  I,  a  child  of  dust,  may  pass  from  toilsome 
life  to  never-ending  rest !  May  T,  through  the 
Lord  Jesus,  receive  from  thee  that  grace  which 
will  make  me,  in  these  my  early  years,  a  partaker 
of  all  the  sweet  comforts  that  religion  yields. 
May  I  possess  that  pure  delight,  that  holy  joy,' 
that  steadflist  peace,  which  flow  from  humbly 
believing   on  a  crucified  Saviour.     jNIay  I  view 

•  Eliza  Cunningham  and  Eliza  M— -. 


or  EARLY  RELIGION.  213 

him  as  GOD  MY  SAVIOUR ;  and  may  my 
spirit  rejoice  in  him,  ivith  joy  unspeakable  and  full 
of  glory.  While  many  of  the  young  around  me 
"grasp  seeming  happiness,  and  find  it  pain;" 
court  pleasure,  and  win  perdition  ;  may  I  obtain 
solid  peace,  and  rest,  and  happiness  in  thee. 
Lord,  lift  thou  up  the  light  of  thy  countenance 
upon  me,  and  cheer  me  with  thy  smile.  Give 
me,  O  my  God,  a  humble  assurance  that  I  am 
thine  :  and  may  I  look  backward  with  pleasure 
on  dangers  escaped  ;  and  praise  thee,  for  bring- 
ing me  from  darkness  to  light,  and  from  the 
power  of  Satan  to  thyself.  Number  me  with  thy 
saints  ;  and  by  faith  may  I  see  Salem's  golden 
towers,  and  heaven's  eternal  mansions;  may  I 
behold  the  blood-bought  crowns,  the  palms  of 
victory,  and  robes  of  light,  designed  for  those 
who  follow  Jesus,  and  wlio  are  faithful  unto 
death.  Let  me  live,  rejoicing  in  him  as  my 
guide,  my  Saviour,  my  all ;  and  let  me  die,  by 
the  eye  of  faith  discerning  him  waiting  on  the 
heavenly  shore,  to  welcome  me  to  himself,  and 
to  introduce  me  into  thy  presence  with  exceeding 
joy.  And  till  that  solemn  moment  arrives,  when 
I  must  exchange  time  for  eternity,  O,  grant  that 
I  may  find  the  ways  of  early  wisdom  the  ways  of 
true  pleasantness,  and  paths  of  most  solid  peace  I 
May  my  heart  be  attuned  for  devotion,  my  soul 
be  transformed  to  relish  the  sacred  pleasures,  and 
to  delight  in  the  holy  exercises  of  meditation, 
praise,  and  prayer.  Thus  may  I  have  meat  to  eat, 
which  the  ivorld  knows  not  of;  pleasures  of  \\  hich 
they  cannot  partake ;  and  may  it  be  my  meat  and 
drink  to  do  my  Father's  will.  Let  me  find  in 
thy  promises,  consolations  more  valuable  than  a 
thousand  worlds.    In  serving  and  loving  thee,  in 


214  MOTIVES  FOR  EARLY  PIETY,  FROM 

communion  with  thee,  and  in  anticipating  thy 
kingdom,  may  I  taste,  even  in  this  world,  some 
humble  foretaste  of  the  joy  to  be  possessed  here- 
aiter. 

Blessed  Redeemer,  I  look  to  thee.  To  thee 
would  I  come,  not  merely  for  life,  but  for  happi- 
ness  also.  jVIay  I  draw  water  ivith  joy,  from  the 
wells  of  salvation.  Give  me  to  drink  from  that 
fountain,  of  which  thou  hast  said.  Whosoever  drinks 
eth  of  the  water  that  I  shall  give  him,  shall  never 
thirst ;  but  the  ivater  that  I  shall  give  him,  shall 
he  in  him  a  ivell  of  vjater,  springing  up  into  ever- 
lasting life.  May  I  partake  of  this  water,  and 
thirst  no  more  ;  but  feeling-  through  thy  grace, 
an  ever-flowing  spring  of  holy  joy  in  my  own 
soul,  may  I  look  with  indifference  on  the  boasted 
delights  of  a  vain  world.  Whatever  happens  to 
me,  let  not  my  heart  be  troubled;  but  believing  in 
God,  and  believing  in  thee,  may  I  find  the  light 
affiictions,  which  are  but  for  a  moment,  working 
lor  me  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  iveight  of 
glory.  Grant  this,  O  thou  most  compassionate 
Saviour,  to  me,  one  of  the  most  unworthy  of  thy 
creatures,  and  thine  shall  be  the  praise.     Amen. 

CHAPTER  XII. 

THE  HAPPY  CONCLUSION  OF  A  RELIGIOUS  LIFE  A 
MOTIVE  FOR  EARLY  PIETY. 

*'And  when  the  closing  scenes  prevail. 
When  wealth,  state,  pleasure,  all  shall  fail; 
All  that  a  foolish  world  admires. 
Or  passion  craves,  or  pride  inspires; 
At  that  important  hour  of  need, 
*  Jesus'  shall  prove  a  friend  indeed: 
His  hand  shall  siBOoth  thy  dying  bed, 
His  arm  sustain  thy  drooping  head; 


THE  HAPPY  END  OF  A  PIOUS  LIFE.  215 

And  when  the  painful  struggle's  o'er, 

And  that  vaiu  thing,  the  world,  no  more. 

He'll  bear  his  youthful  friend  away. 

To  rapture  and  eternal  day : 

Come  then  be  his  in  every  part, 

Nor  give  him  less  than  all  thy  heart." 

§  1.  It  is,  my  young  friend,  the  peculiar  ex- 
cellence of  religion,  that  its  blessings  yield  most 
support,  when  that  support  is  needed  most.  The 
humble  Christian  does  not  love  a  forgetful  God. 
They  -whose  strength  and  prime  are  devoted  to 
their  INIaker's  glory,  will  experience  his  presence 
and  support,  when  their  flesh  and  heart  fail ;  and 
when  death  is  at  hand,  to  remove  them  to  the 
eternal  world.  If  you  remember  your  Creator, 
in  these  your  blooming  days,  he  will  remember 
this  kindness  of  your  youth  through  all  the  scenes 
of  your  following  life,  and  when  you  come  to  lie 
down  and  die.  Death  is  approaching  ;  and  when 
all  sublunary  objects  can  yield  you  no  support, 
God  would  remember  that,  in  you,  he  had  a  child 
conflicting  with  the  last  foe;  and  you  might, 
with  pleasure,  think 

"  Though  unseen  by  human  eye, 
My  Redeemer's  hand  is  nigh ; 
He  has  spread  salvation's  light 
Far  within  the  vale  of  night." 

Though  death  is  naturally  dreadful  to  man,  yet 
many  of  the  young  disciples  of  the  Lord  have 
passed,  with  calm  composure,  or  holy  joy,  through 
its  dark  valley  to  the  realms  of  everlasting  day. 

§  2.  Ypu  are  called  on  to  imitate  those  who, 
through  faith  and  patience,  are  inheriting  the 
promises.  Take  then  a  view  of  the  concluding 
scene  of  the  life  of  one,  who  in  his  youth  became 
a  disciple  of  the  Lord.  Think  not  that  in  refer- 
ring you  to  the  apostle  Paul's  departure,  as  an 


216      DYING  TRIUMPH  OF  THE  APOSTLE  PAUL. 

example  of  holy  triumph  over  death,  I  refer  you 
to  that  of  too  elevated  a  character.  Like  you,  he 
was  but  man.  Like  you,  was  once  a  sinner.  The 
same  blood  that  washed  away  his  sins,  may  blot 
out  yours.  The  Saviour  who  was  his  all,  is  willing 
to  be  yours.  The  grace  he  possessed,  you  may 
obtain.  The  strength,  by  which  he  conquered, 
you  may  enjoy.  The  Spirit,  that  made  a  tem- 
ple of  his  heart,  is  willing  to  make  one  of  yours. 
Though  not  called  with  a  call  miraculous  as  his, 
though  not  employed  in  labours  important  as 
those  in  which  his  life  was  spent,  yet  you  may 
be  dear  to  his  Lord ;  entitled  to  the  same  sup- 
ports and  privileges ;  and  an  heir  of  the  same 
blessings  as  he. 

Long  had  this  blessed  apostle  been,  like  his 
Lord,  a  man  of  sorrows ;  and  his  years  had  been 
worn  out  in  labours.  At  length  the  end  arrived 
when  he  might  take  a  farewell  to  earth ;  and  he 
did  so  with  a  calmness  worthy  the  heir  of  abetter 
world.  His  triumphant  language  was,  "  I  have 
fought  a  good  fight ;  I  have  finished  my  course ; 
I  have  kept  the  faith  ;  henceforth  there  is  laid  up 
for  me  a  crown  of  righteousness,  which  the  Lord 
the  righteous  Judge  shall  give  me  at  that  day ;  and 
not  to  me  only,  but  unto  all  them  also  that  love  his 
appearing."  "  I  know  in  whom  I  have  believed  ; 
and  am  persuaded  that  he  is  able  to  keep  that 
which  I  have  committed  unto  him  against  that 
day."  The  world  he  was  about  to  quit,  concerned 
him  no  longer.  He  could  smile  at  its  hatred,  and 
pity  its  happiness.  A  brighter,  a  better,  and  an 
eternal  scene  lay  before  him.  We  may  imagine 
him  looking  back  on  past  scenes  of  suflfering  and 
labour ;  retracing  in  his  thoughts  many  a  weary 
step,  and  many  a  painful  hour;  and  then  raptu- 


BLESSKDNESS  OF  PEACE  IN  DEATH.  217 

rously  exclaiming' — "This  is  all  over  now;  my 
course  is  finished  ;  the  victory  is  won ;  my  dan- 
gers are  passed  ;  I  have  kept  the  faith.  In  vain 
would  earth  or  hell  attempt  to  excite  one  fear,  or 
raise  one  doubt  within  my  breast.  I  know  in 
whom  I  have  trusted.  I  know  that  Jesus  is  my 
Saviour,  and  an  eternal  weight  of  glory  mine.  I 
know  that  Cod  is  my  portion;  heaven  my  home, 
and  that  a  few  more  days  will  land  me  safely 
there." 

§  3.  O  my  young  friend,  let  me  tell  you,  and 
tell  you  seriously,  that  you  must  die,  and  unless 
you  obtain  the  consolations  of  religion,  must 
know  their  imjDortance  when  too  late.  Think, 
then,  that  thus,  in  your  case,  early  piety  might 
disarm  death  of  its  terrors,  and  drive  away  the 
cloud  of  gloom  that  hangs  over  the  grave.  Thus 
might  you  also  leave  this  world  of  vanity,  assured 
of  an  interest  in  Jesus,  and  of  everlasting  rest. 
O  happy,  happy  they  who  thus  can  die  !  happy 
they  who  so  peacefully  depart  in  blooming 
youth,  or  withering  age,  from  scenes  of  sorrow, 
or  from  scenes  of  comfort !  still  happy  they,  who 
die  blessed  in  an  unseen  Saviour's  love;  and 
soon  to  be  blessed  by  a  present  Saviour's  gracious 
welcome  to  the  abodes  of  glory  !  Happy  they, 
beyond  all  thought  and  all  expression  !  beyond 
the  power  of  mortal  tongues  to  tell,  or  of  narrow 
time  to  utter  !  Let  the  vain  world  keep  its  pos- 
sessions !  let  the  fashionable  and  the  gay  enjoy 
their  short-lived  gaiety,  and  quickly-ending  plea- 
sure !  Let  the  wealthy  exult  in  their  stores,  and 
the  noble  in  their  honours!  these  are  not  the 
happy.  The  solemn  death- bed,  where  the  hum. 
ble,  faithful  disciple  of  Jesus  has  lain,  has  often 
afforded  a  happier  spectacle  than  the  most  happy 


218  BRIEF  NARRATIVES,  DISPLAYING 

ever  beheld  in  scenes  of  worldly  revelry  and 
pleasure.  Many  followers  of  the  world  may  be 
found  professedly  happy  while  sporting  amidst 
the  gaieties  of  this  life,  but  where  one  so  when 
leaving  them  for  ever?  Many  cheerful  in  the 
world,  but  where  one  so  when  going  out  of  it  ? 
They  may  be  cheerful  living,  but  the  Christian 
can  be  so  when  dying  too. 

Perhaps  you  look  on  death  as  dreadful;  but 
many  as  young  as  you  have  met  it  without  a  fear ; 
and  without  a  wish  to  stay  longer  here,  have  pass- 
ed through  that  important  hour  to  life,  to  happi- 
ness, to  Jesus,  heaven,  and  God.  What  causes 
the  difference  between  them  and  you  ?  Is  it  not 
this?  They  knew  in  whom  they  had  believed, 
and,  knowing  this,  knew  also  that  heaven  was 
their  home.  O  my  young  friend,  embrace  that 
gospel,  whose  blessings  formed  their  support! 
Then  if  life,  that  most  uncertain  of  all  uncertain 
things,  should  end  long  before  you  expect  its  con- 
clusion, it  will  not  end  before  you  are  found  rea- 
dy for  a  better. 

§  4.  It  is  not  merely  apostles  and  martyrs  that 
have  passed  triumphantly  into  eternity.  Many 
of  the  young  disciples  of  the  Lord  have  died 
with  as  much  composure,  and  as  much  holy  joy 
as  they.  In  1808,  died  H.  S.  Golding,  in  the 
24th  year  of  his  age.  When  he  felt  the  approach 
of  death,  he  is  stated  to  have  uttered  these  raptu- 
rous expressions:  "I  find  now  it  is  no  delusion! 
My  hopes  are  well  founded !  Eye  hath  not  seen, 
nor  ear  heard,  neither  hath  it  entered  into  the 
heart  of  man  to  conceive  the  glory  I  shall  short- 
ly partake  of!  Read  your  Bible !  I  shall  read 
mine  no  more  — no  more  need  it!"  When  his 
bi-other  said  to  him,  "  You  seem  to  enjoy  fore- 


THE  CHEERING  POWER  OF  EARLY  RELIGION.      219 

tastes  of  heaven,"  "  O,"  replied  he,  "  this  is  no 
longer  foretaste  —  this  is  heaven!  I  not  only- 
feel  the  climate,  but  breathe  the  air  of  heaven, 
and  soon  shall  enjoy  the  company  !  Can  this 
be  dying  ?  This  body  seems  no  longer  to  belong 
to  the  soul !  it  appears  only  as  a  curtain  that  co- 
vers it ;  and  soon  I  shall  drop  this  curtain,  and 
be  set  at  liberty !"  Then  putting  his  hand  to  his 
breast,  he  exclaimed,  "I  rejoice  to  feel  these 
bones  give  way,  as  it  tells  me  I  shall  be  with  my 
God  in  glory  \" 

The  last  words  that  he  was  heard  to  utter,  were 
"glory,  glory,  glory!" 

In  July,  1827,  died,  at  an  early  age,  a  young 
disciple  of  the  Saviour,  related  to  the  late  emi- 
nent missionary,  Mr.  Ward  :  her  name  was  Jane. 
When  about  fifteen,  she  embraced  religion,  and 
sought  peace  in  a  Saviour's  love,  encouraged  by 
the  gracious  promise,  "  Come  unto  me,  all  ye 
that  labour  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give 
you  rest."  The  happy  influence  of  true  piety 
upon  her  heart,  was  displayed  in  her  conduct; 
and  is  pleasingly  expressed  in  a  letter  written 
about  two  years  after  her  admission  into  the 
church  of  Christ.  The  heart  that  dictated,  and 
the  hand  that  wrote,  now  moulder  in  the  dust  of 
death,  but  some  expressions  written  by  that  now 
mouldering  hand,  may  teach  the  young  the  worth 
of  early  piety.  "  I  am  in  perfect  health,  but  not 
knowing  how  soon  death  may  come.  I  am  has- 
tening to  the  grave,  but  not  with  sorrow ;  for  I 
know  in  whom  1  have  believed,  and  that  he  is 
able  to  keep  what  I  have  committed  unto  him. 
I  must  soon  part  with  all  below ,  and  with  you, 
my  dear  minister,  but  not  for  ever ;  for  I  hope 
we  shall  soon  meet  in  Christ,  and  part  no  more. 


220  BRIEl'  NARRATIVES,  DISPLAYING 

Jt  is  my  desire  to  press  forward.  O  that  I  could 
glorify  my  Redeemer  more  than  I  do !  Behold, 
God  is  my  salvation.  Blessed  be  the  Lord  that 
he  hath  enabled  me  to  say  this  !  If  I  had  a  thou- 
sand hearts  and  a  thousand  tongues,  frhey  all 
should  be  employed  in  praising  and  adoring  the 
great  Redeemer.  O  that  I  could  leave  the  world 
and  all  its  sins  !  When  my  mind  is  taken  up 
with  the  thoughts  of  eternity,  then  I  want  to  be 
gone  to  that  world,  where  neither  sin  nor  sorrow 
shall  wound. 

Where  they  who  meet  shall  never  part. 
Where  grace  achieves  its  plan ; 

And  God,  uniting  ev'ry  heart. 
Dwells  face  to  face  with  man. 

I  want  more  grace  to  subdue  all  the  evils 
within,  and  bring  them  into  sweet  and  humble 
subjection  to  the  will  of  God.  I  would  be  his 
entirely,  and  his  for  ever;  his  in  life;  his  in 
death  ;  and  his  to  all  eternity  ;  and  then  I  know 
he  will  be  mine  for  ever.  Life  is  uncertain,  but 
death  is  welcome ;  death  is  no  more  the  king  of 
dread  to  me,  through  Jesus  Christ.  I  long  to  be 
with  him.  I  am  young,  but  not  too  young  to 
die;  not  too  young  to  glorify  my  Redeemer; 
who  hath  bought  me  with  his  precious  blood. 
The  Lord  has  been  my  refuge  in  time  of  trouble. 
Praise  him  for  me,  for  I  do  not,  I  cannot,  half 
enough.  His  boundless  love  to  me  is  unsearch- 
able. Remember  me  in  the  prayers  you  offer  to 
God.  Prayer  will  not  be  wanted  long.  Praise 
will  soon  begin  in  brightest  strains. " 

My  dear  young  reader,  these  sentiments  were 
not  expressed  by  a  Christian  worn  out  with  age, 
and  ripened  for  heaven,  by  a  long  course  of  pie- 
ty; but  thev  were  tho^e  of  an  amiable  girl  of 


THE  CHEERING  POWER  OF  EARLY  RELIGION.      221 

seventeen,  nine  years  before  the  important  sum- 
mons to  eternity  came.  Have  you  her  comforts  ? 
is  her  Saviour  yours?  The  peace  thus  impart- 
ed by  a  knowledge  of  the  Saviour,  Jane  enjoyed, 
when  the  solemnities  of  eternity  drew  near. 
Her  last  illness  was  long  and  painful.  INIa- 
ny  hours  of  severe  distress  did  she  pass  in  her 
sick  chamber,  or  on  her  bed  of  death,  but  all  was 
peace  within. 

She  said,  "I  have  enjoyed  for  some  years  more 
comfort  than  T  can  express ;  then  why  should  I 
repine !  —  When  I  am  not  torn  with  pain,  I 
have  always  felt  peace  and  pleasure  —  I  wish  to 
be  in  heaven  with  my  Saviour  —  I  trust  I  am 
waiting  for  his  coming ;  I  feel  extreme  pain  at 
times,  but  I  do  not  feel  one  pain  in  my  mindy 
At  times  she  expected  recovery,  but  could  say, 
''When  I  began  to  get  better,  I  w^as  not  anxious 
to  recover  —  I  am  now  very  willing  to  suffer,  if 
the  Lord  will  give  me  grace  and  strength  —  If  I 
knew  I  were  not  to  recover  I  should  be  happy ;  — 
I  can  say  with  the  Psalmist,  O  God,  my  heart  is 
fixed  ;  —  I  know  he  is  mine  ;  I  know  that  I  am 
his ;  —  I  have  not  a  wish  to  recover."  —  Often  did 
she  express  her  confidence  in  her  Saviour,  which 
at  times  rose  to  the  full  assurance  of  faith.  *•  ]My 
mind  is  very  happy — in  a  very  happy  frame, 
and  a  thankful  frame — I  have  not  exultation, 
but  I  know  that  if  all  the  world  w^ere  lost  I 
should  be  saved."  —  She  anticipated  with  com- 
fort an  entrance  on  her  heavenly  Father's  home. 
With  all  this  gladdening  confidence,  was  min- 
gled deep  humility  ;  "  I  am,"  she  said,  "  an  un- 
worthy sinner,  and  have  done  nothing  for  my 
salvation."  In  her  latest  hours,  when  the  power 
of  speech  was  almost  gone,  she  faintly  whisper- 


222  BRIEF  NARRATIVES,  DISPLAYING 

ed,  "  Happy,  happy,"  and  seemed  in  prayer  to 
say,  "Come,  my  dear  Saviour !"  —  Shall  you  die 
thus?  Can  you  die  thus  unless  you  seek  the 
Saviour  as  yours  ?  and  yield,  like  Jane,  your 
youth  to  him  ? 

Anne  Bailey  in  early  youth  sought  her  God ; 
but  found  no  settled  peace  for  several  years. 
Thus  tried,  she  felt  tempted  to  give  up  hope; 
but  still  persevered,  and  at  length  obtained  the 
peace  she  sought.  Enriched  with  that  blessing, 
she  desired  admission  into  a  Christian  church; 
and  when  about  eighteen  made  the  solemn  pro- 
fession of  religion. 

Her  subsequent  course  was  one  ot  consistent 
and  honourable  piety.  She  was,  in  various  ways, 
the  subject  of  affliction.  Under  one  trial,  she 
thus  expressed  her  feelings :  "By  the  grace  and 
assistance  of  my  God,  none  of  these  things  shall 
move  me  from  my  steadfastness  in  the  Lord. 
Many,  many,  my  dear  M — ,  are  the  trials  I  am 
called  to  encounter  daily ;  but  that  time  is  not  far 
distant,  at  the  longest,  when  I  shall  have  done 
with  trials ;  and  then  I  shall  be  for  ever  at  rest. 
Though  every  earthly  friend  should  forsake  me, 
I  have  a  friend  in  Christ,  that  will  not:  and 
there  is  still  a  way  of  access  to  the  throne  of 
grace.  I  hope  we  shall  meet  in  that  world, 
where  our  employment  will  be  praise  to  him  who 
hath  washed  us  from  our  sins  in  his  own  blood." 

A  few  months  after  the  date  of  this  letter,  she 
was  attacked  with  an  illness  from  which  she 
never  recovered  ;  and  which,  with  a  few  intervals 
of  less  severe  suffering,  confined  her  principally 
to  her  bed,  for  upwards  of  six  successive  years. 
During  this  long  period  of  affliction,  her  patience, 
resignation,   and  peace  were   exemplary.      In- 


THE  CHEERING  POWER  OF  EARLY  RELIGION.      223 

stead  of  repining  at  what  she  suffered,  she  often 
expressed  her  gratitude  for  what  she  enjoyed; 
and  her  comfort  from  what  she  anticipated. 
Many  cheering  expressions  of  the  peace  that 
filled  her  soul  dropped  from  her  lips  during  these 
wearisome  years.  Her  resignation  appeared  en- 
tire. "It  is  enough  for  me/*  she  observed,  "  to 
know  that  I  am  suffering  the  will  of  God."  Her 
countenance  frequently  beamed  with  benignity 
and  sacred  composure.  The  Saviour  she  loved 
was  her  hope :  and,  as  eternal  scenes  drew  near, 
her  hope  retained  all  its  cheering  power.  A 
friend  observed  to  her,  that  her  hope  was  worth 
the  world.  ''  JMore  than  the  w^orld  to  me.  Sir," 
was  the  expressive  reply.  When  her  last  day 
approached  apace,  nothing  like  a  wish  to  stay 
longer  was  visible.  Not  "  one  longing,  lingering 
look"  did  she  seem  to  cast  behind  on  the  world 
she  was  about  to  leave.  She  said,  "  I  desire  to 
depart  and  be  with  Christ :  I  long  to  be  with  my 
Saviour."  She  observed,  that  she  would  not 
change  places  with  any  of  her  Christian  friends, 
•who  were  in  health  around  her ;  and  spoke  in 
her  last  hours  of  being  "  very  happy."  Her  de- 
sires at  length  were  accomplished :  and  her  Lord 
took  her  to  her  endless  home. 

JMy  young  friend,  leara  from  this  short  narra- 
tive, that  early  religion  is  indeed  a  precious  bless- 
ing. Here  you  see  it  cheering  a  young  disciple 
through  successive  years  of  illness.  While  the 
young  around  her  were  exulting  in  the  sprightli- 
ness  and  bloom  of  youth,  the  bed  of  pain  was 
her  inheritance,  the  chamber  of  affliction  her 
dwelling;  yet  the  Saviour's  love  rendered  her, 
in  that  sick  chamber,  happier  than  those  who 
know  not  God  are  in  the  midst  of  youth,  and 


224  BEIEF  NARRATIVES,  DISPLAYING 

gaiety,  and  health.  The  Saviour's  love  shed  the 
comforts  of  heavenly  tranquillity  around  her  bed 
of  pain  ;  brightened  with  immortal  hopes  her 
chamber  of  suffering;  and  when  the  last  solemn 
scene  drew  nigh,  rendered  death,  usually  the 
king  of  terrors,  more  desirable  than  life  with  all 
its  attractions.  If  you  are  a  disciple  of  the  Sa- 
viour, but  tried  with  doubts  and  almost  over- 
whelmed with  sadness,  let  this  young  Christian's 
experience  encourage  yoa ;  learn  from  her  his- 
tory, that  years  of  distress,  while  seeking  salva- 
tion, may  be  followed  by  years  of  settled  peace 
—  of  peace  so  rich,  and  so  rirm,  that  long  afflic- 
tion shall  not  weaken  its  power,  i3or  death  disturb 
its  holy  calm. 

Another  young  disciple  of  the  Saviour,  in  his 
last  illness,  observea  to  the  writer,  that  the 
thoughts  of  eternity  were  most  pleasant  to  him. 
He  spoke  of  himself  as  lying  at  the  Saviour's 
feet,  willing  to  receive  ease  or  pain ;  and  said, 
"  Death  is  never  once  a  terror.  I  am  not  afraid 
to  die;  it  rather  seems  lovely.  Christ  is  every 
thing.  —  He  is  all.  —  I  see  more  beauties  in 
him." 

Such  cheering  instances  of  the  power  of  di- 
vine grace  have  been  almost  numberless.  One 
of  the  last  expressions  of  a  dying  saint  whose 
piety  began  in  youth,  was,  "  Welcome  joy ."•» 
Another,f  who  sought  God  when  but  thirteen, 
feeling  her  pulse  while  death  was  stealing  on 
her,  said,  "Well,  it  wall  be  but  a  little  while  be- 
fore my  w^ork  in  this  w'orld  will  be  finished. 
Then  I  shall  have  done  with  prayer.  My  whole 
employment  in  heaven  will  be  praise  and  love. 
Here  I  love  God  faintly,  yet  I  hope  sincerely, 

•  Elliott.  +  Mrs.  Ho-jsmau. 


THE  CHEERING  POWER  OF  EARLY  RELIGION.      225 

but  there  it  will  be  perfectly.  I  shall  behold 
his  face  in  righteousness,  for  I  am  thy  servant. 
Lord,  bought  with  blood,  with  precious  blood  ; 
Christ  died  to  purchase  the  life  of  my  soul.  A 
little  while  and  I  shall  be  singing  that  sweet 
song, '  Blessing  and  honour,  and  glory,  and  pow- 
er, be  unto  him  that  sitteth  upon  the  throne,  and 
to  the  Lamb  for  ever  and  ever.'  "  With  smiles 
she  often  said,  "  Come,  Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly. 

0  blessed  convoy,  come  and  fetch  my  soul  to 
dwell  with  God,  and  Christ,  and  perfect  spirits 
for  ever  and  ever !  O  the  glory,  the  glory  that 
shall  be  set  on  the  head  of  faith  and  love !" 
Soon  after  she  said,  "  Farewell,  sin !  farewell, 
pains ;"  and  then  in  holy  peace  expired. 

Many  brought  from  all  the  abasements  of  idol- 
atry and  heathenism  have  felt  in  their  dying 
hours  the  sacred  peace  imparted  by  the  Almigh- 
ty Saviour.  A  converted  Hindoo,t  said  in  his 
last  illness,  "God  is  my  only  hope.  Life  is 
good  —  death  is  good  ;  but  to  be  wholly  eman- 
cipated is  better.  He  is  my  God,  and  I  am  his 
child.  He  never  leaves  me ;  he  is  always  pre- 
sent." And  alluding  to  the  expressions,  Grace 
be  to  you,  and  peace  from  God  our  Father  and 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  he  said,  "Peace,  peace, 

1  now  find  in  my  own  heart  that  peace."  An- 
other converted  Hindoo,§  when  dying,  said, 
"My  Saviour  hath  sent  his  messenger  for  me, 
and  I  long  to  go  to  him."  A  dying  chief  i^  one 
of  the  Sandwich  Islands,  referring  to  his  Sa- 
viour, observed,  "During  the  day  I  think  of 
Him  ;  during  the  night  I  think  of  Him  ,  in  pain 
I  think  of  Him ;  in  ease  I  think  of  Him ;  I  do 
not  forget  him,  and  I  trust  he  will  not  forget  mo." 

i  Petumber.  i  Kriblma. 


226  DEATH   APPROACHING  THE  READER. 

My  youn^  friend,  shall  such  comforts  be 
yours  ?  While  you  see  them  found  even  by 
those  who  once  were  heathens,  will  you  neglect 
the  Giver  of  them  ?  If  you  have  not  committed 
your  soul  to  Jesus,  will  you  still  hesitate  to  do  so  ? 
Perhaps  your  time  for  doing  so  is  almost  gone. 
Perhaps  your  days  of  health  and  vigour  are  al- 
most fled.  Perhaps  you  now  see  your  last  sum- 
mer or  your  last  winter ;  the  winter  of  the  grave 
may  be  your  next.  Is  any  thing  so  important 
that  it  should  lead  you,  for  a  single  hour,  to 
neglect  that  Saviour,  whose  favour  will  concern 
you  for  ever?  O  how  gladly  would  millions, 
who  were  once  the  great,  the  noble,  the  wealthy, 
the  young,  the  sprightly,  and  the  gay  ;  who  once 
shone  in  the  ball-room,  and  glittered  in  the 
theatre,  welcome  another  day  of  grr.ce,  like  that 
you  now  enjoy!  O  how  gladly  would  millions, 
who  w'ere  such  but  twenty  or  thirty  years  ago, 
now  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come!  but,  ah  1 
they  cannot;  their  day  is  past;  but  you  may, 
and  let  me  hope  you  do  embrace  the  gospel ; 
and  let  me,  as  it  were,  take  you  by  the  hand, 
and  lead  you  forward  to  future  scenes. 

§  5.  You  must  die ;  yet  if  possessed  of  a 
humble  assurance  that  Jesus  is  your  Saviour, 
you  may  die  in  peace ;  and  when  that  hour  comes 
which  has  been  passed  with  comfort  by  thou- 
sands who  were  safe  in  Jesus,  and  with  terror  by 
millions  who  were  not;  you  undismayed  may 
meet  that  solemn  hour.  Then,  when  languish- 
ing in  your  last  sickness,  yoH  may  w'ish  for  no- 
thing less,  and  fear  nothing  more,  than  recovery 
and  longer  life.  O  !  when  this  scene  of  vanity  is 
ending ;  when  all  your  ornaments  must  be 
chansred  for  a  shroud,  aud  all  the  amusements  of 


THE  CHRISTIAN'S  FAREWELL  TO   EARTH.      227 

youth,  or  the  cares  of  riper  years,  for  the  solem- 
nities of  the  eternal  world  ;  then  indeed  will  ear- 
ly piety  appear  a  blessing  past  expression. 
Then  all  that  you  are  eager  ibr  now  will  have  va- 
nished like  a  dream  ;  the  pleasures  and  the  griefs, 
the  cares  and  the  hopes  of  youth,  and  life,  will 
be  no  more;  but  the  blessings  of  religion  will 
not  have  fled  away.  Then,  when  the  last  sands 
of  life  are  running  out,  you  may  gladly  say,  These 
solemn,  painful  days  w  ill  quickly  hasten  me  over 
the  tempestuous  sea  of  life;  and  land  me  "On 
the  peaceful  shore  of  blest  eternity." 

And  when  you  reach  the  very  borders  of  that 
awful  and  amazing  state,  as  with  an  angel's  eye, 
you  might  survey  a  vanishing  world,  and  take 
a  last  adieu  of  earth  and  time.  —  "  Farewell,  ye 
scenes  of  imperfection  !  Farewell,  folly,  sin,  and 
vanity!  Farewell,  all  that  once  I  knew  —  the 
spots  I  trod  —  the  places  where  I  dwelt  —  the 
scenes  endeared  by  friendly  converse  —  the  re- 
treats made  sacred  by  youthful  devotion — all 
farewell!  I  go  where  joy  for  ever  reigns.  I  go 
where  sickness  never  comes.  I  go  where  death 
is  never  known.  I  go  where  perfection  and  pu- 
rity, happiness  and  endless  life,  shall  be  my  long, 
long  portion.  I  go  from  mortal  to  immortal 
things;  from  dying  men  to  the  living  God  ;  from 
fickle  mortals  to  the  steadfast  Saviour ;  from  sin- 
ful creatures  to  joyful  saints  and  holy  angels. 
Adieu,  vain  world  of  cares,  and  doubts,  and  fears ; 
yet,  sacred  world,  where  heaven  was  made  my 
portion  !  Adieu,  thou  weary  seat  of  troubles  and 
imperfections ;  yet,  endeared  region,  where  t'le 
Saviour's  love  dawned  upon  my  soul;  and  glo- 
ry, honour,  and  immortality,  became  my  inheri- 
tance i  Adieu  !  for  ever,  departing  world,  adieu  ! 


228  THE  christian's  departure. 

But  O !  welcome,  ye  blessed  spirits,  that  come  to 
convey  me  to  my  God  !  Welcome,  my  Saviour's 
gracious  call  to  his  abode  !  Welcome,  ye  bliss- 
ful scenes  of  peace,  and  love,  and  joy,  and  praise  ! 
Welcome,  heaven  !  Welcome,  everlasting  life  ! 
§  6.  At  length  your  last  conflict  ends — your 
pulse  stops —  to  beat  no  more  for  ever — your  last 
hour  comes — and  goes — and  you  have  done  with 
the  world  for  ever.  Your  tongue  is  silent — your 
eyes  are  closed  —  the  silver  cord  is  loosed,  and 
the  golden  bowl  is  broken  —  surrounding  friends 
look  not  on  you,  but  on  your  lifeless  clay  — the 
soul  is  gone  —  gone  to  other  scenes  —  to  an  un- 
changing, eternal  world.  O  my  young  friend ! 
dark  and  dismal  as  this  hour  appears  to  the  eye 
of  sense,  if  you  are  found  in  Jesus  it  will  not  be 
so  to  you ;  but  when  your  last  painful  struggle 
is  over,  in  a  happier  world  will  your  departed  spi- 
rit find  that  the  blessed  Jesus  did  not  forget  the 
kindness  of  your  youth.  Then  will  your  tri- 
umphs begin.  Others  may  hear  your  parting 
groan,  your  expiring  sigh,  while  you  triumphant- 
ly pass  into  your  Redeemer's  presence.  O  bless- 
ed change,  when  mortals  weep  because  a  friend 
is  dead,  but  angels  exult  because  a  friend  has  en- 
tered real  life !  Those  who  loved  you  may  com- 
plain, "Alas!  our  beloved  friend  is  dead  to- 
day !"  But  could  we  hear  the  words  of  angels, 
we  might  hear  —  "  Another  heir  of  glory  has  now 
begun  to  live — another  child  of  sorrow  has  left 
all  sorrows  for  eternal  joys  —  the  sad  chamber 
of  sickness  for  these  blessed  mansions  of  hea- 
ven—  weeping  mortal  friends,  for  Jesus  and  for 
God;  and  now  is  this  happy  spirit  with  the  Lord 
of  Glory,  who,  a  few  hours  ago,  was  a  prisoner  in 
a  feeble,  diseased,  and  dying  body!"    * 


REFLECTION  URGED.  229 

§  7.  O  my  youthful  reader,  if  all  the  other  ad- 
vantages of  early  piety  were  to  vanish  in  a  mo. 
ment,  surely  these  should  be  sufficient  to  lead 
you  to  make  humble  religion  your  lasting,  only 
choice.  A  few  hasty  years,  at  longest,  must  lay 
you  in  the  dust;  but  O!  think  of  such  an  en- 
trance into  glory,  and  of  an  eternal  dwelling 
there !  Think  of  the  joy  with  which,  after  a  life 
of  humble  religion,  your  spirit  would  ascend  into 
the  presence  of  your  Saviour,  even  before  your 
forsaken  body  was  committed  to  the  grave,  even 
before  your  lifeless  limbs  were  stiffened  with  the 
cold  of  death  !  Think  of  the  congratulations  of 
the  holy  saints  and  martyrs  that  fled  to  heaven 
before  you,  and  of  their  warm  welcome  on  your 
arrival  there !  Think  of  the  approving  smile  of 
your  Redeemer  and  your  God  !  that  smile  which 
would  repay  in  one  hour,  the  labours  of  ten  thou- 
sand years.  Think  of  the  delightful  words, 
"Come,  thou  blessed  !"  Think  of  the  joy  with 
which  you  would  behold  the  God  you  loved,  and 
the  Saviour  you  trusted  !  And  O  !  think  of  that 
great  day  when  the  divine  Redeemer,  before  an 
assembled  world,  would  give  you  the  crown  of 
glory,  that  fadeth  not  away !  Then  you,  a  shin- 
ing inhabitant  of  heaven,  would  see,  without 
concern,  the  sun  turned  into  darkness,  and  the 
moon  cease  to  shine;  the  stars  fall  from  heaven, 
and  the  heavens  vanish  away ;  and  when  the  last 
trumjDet  shall  have  proclaimed,  that  time  shall 
be  no  more,  you  might  rejoice,  that  though  time 
had  ended,  eternity  will  never  end ;  that  though 
earthly  pleasures  proved  a  dream,  heavenly  de- 
light will  endure  for  ever  and  ever;  and  O!  you 
might  add,  "This  eternity,  this  heaven  is  mine  I" 
And  now,  thou  God  of  grace,  let  not  those 


250      FUTURE  GOOD  A  MOTIVE  FOR  EARLY  PIETY. 

who  read  these  pages  be  unmoved  by  motives  so 
powerful,  that  they  should  soften  even  hearts  of 
stone,  but  by  thy  spirit  make  them  successful ; 
for  without  him  even  these  will  be  urged  in  vain. 
Pity  the  young,  that  may  be  careless  of  these 
solemn  truths  ;  lead  them  to  the  Saviour.  Then 
shall  they  find  him  their  friend  in  life,  in  death, 
and  at  judgment,  and  for  ever;  and  Thee  their 
God  through  endless  days.  For  Jesus's  sake, 
thus  bless  them,  O  thou  compassionate  Lord  of 
all. 

CHAPTER  XITI. 

THE  FUTURE  HAPPINESS  OF  THE  YOUNG  CHRISTIAN, 
A  MOTIVE  FOR  EARLY  PIETY. 

§  1.  Having,  my  young  friend,  endeavoured 
to  persuade  you  to  embrace  early  religion,  by  a 
view  of  the  scenes  through  which  you  must  pass 
on  this  side  the  grave,  let  me  now  beseech  you 
to  contemplate  the  infinitely  important  scenes 
beyond  that  solemn  bound  of  earthly  things. 

The  word  of  God  reveals  an  awful  judgment; 
but  long  before  its  solemn  scenes  take  place ; 
long  before  the  resurrection  day,  your  soul  will 
pass  into  an  endless  world.  The  scripture  doc- 
trine is,  that  immediately  after  death  the  spirit 
passes  to  a  state  of  glory  or  wretchedness.  Thus 
Jesus  said  to  the  penitent  malefactor,  "  To-day 
shall  thou  be  with  me  in  Paradise ;"  the  apostle 
spoke  of  being  *'  absent  from  the  body,  and  present 
with  the  Lord;''  and  Lazarus  is  represented  by 
the  Lord  as  conducted  to  heaven;   and  Dives  as 

Luke,  xxiii.  43.  2  Cor.  v.  8. 


ENTRANCE  OiN   HEAVEN.  231 

waking  in  hell,  even  while  his  brethren  were 
living'  upon  earth.  But  the  scriptures  also  teach 
us,  that  neither  the  happiness  of  the  blest,  nor 
the  misery  of  the  lost,  will  be  complete  till  the 
day  of  general  judgment.  Then  the  body  will 
rise  in  a  new  and  immortal  form,  to  partake  of 
the  happiness  or  wretchedness  of  the  soul.  Then 
will  the  doom  of  each  individual  be  solemn- 
ly and  publicly  pronounced,  and  the  happiness 
of  the  saints  perfected,  and  the  misery  of  the  un- 
godly awfully  increased. 

§  2.  In  the  state  of  intermediate  happiness  ma- 
ny now  rest  from  their  labours.  Some  of  these 
once  wandered  in  sheep  skins  and  goat  skins, 
being  destitute,  afflicted,  tormented.  Others  were 
sawn  asunder,  or  torn  in  pieces  by  wild  beasts, 
or  lingered  for  days  in  slow  fires,  or  passed 
through  fiercer  flames  to  heaven.  Could  you 
ask  these,  whether  what  they  now  enjoy  is  worth 
the  pains  they  underwent;  "Ah  !"  they  might 
reply,  "ten  thousand  times  more.  What  we 
possess,  would  amply  recompense  the  labours 
of  ten  thousand  lives,  the  sufferings  often  thou- 
sand ages."  If  you  find  an  interest  in  the  Lamb 
of  God,  you  will  soon  be  summoned  to  join  these 
spirits  of  the  just  made  perfect;  and,  when  the 
last  conflict  is  over,  with  inexpressible  delight 
may  you  spring  upward  to  eternal  rest !  How 
great  the  change  !  What  new  scenes  and  pros- 
pects will  that  hour  present !  what  nev/  joys  in- 
spire !  what  new  treasures  unfold  !  what  rap- 
tures overwhelm  the  soul,  just  landed  on  that 
peaceful  shore  !  "  Is  this  heaven  !"  may  the 
newly  arrived  pilgrim  exclaim :  "  how  grovel- 
ling were   my  highest  thoughts  to  this  !     Are 

Laike,  xvi.  22.    John,  v,  29.    Tim.  It.  14.    Rer.  xx.  11    2  The«.  i.  6. 


232  ETERNAL  JUDGMENT. 

these  the  spirits  of  the  just !  these  the  holy  an- 
gels of  light !    these  my  companions  for  ever  ! 

0  how  despicable  was  all  I  ever  imagined  com- 
pared with  this !  Are  these  they  whose  robes 
were  washed  in  Jesus's  blood!  Is  this  their 
abode  for  ever,  and  is  this  mine  !  O  had  I  con- 
ceived this  below,  how  should  I  have  sighed  to 
leave  that  dark  dungeon,  earth  !  Is  this  my  Sa- 
viour, and  is  this  my  God  !  O  insufferable,  yet 
transporting  glory  !  How  mean,  how  worthless 
is  the  world  I  left !  yet  there  are  millions  grov- 
elling in  its  dust ;  and,  but  for  heavenly  grace, 

1  might  have  done  so  too !"  O  blessed,  incon- 
ceivably blessed  change  for  the  holy  soul,  that 
thus  passes  from  the  dismal  chamber  of  sickness 
to  the  bright  and  healthful  regions  of  heaven  ; 
from  dying  pains  to  boundless  bliss ;  from  the 
converse  of  sinful  mortals  to  the  presence  of  the 
infinitely  gracious  and  glorious  God;  from  a 
contentious,  tumultuous  world,  to  endless  peace, 
and  rest,  and  love ! 

§  3.  Now,  for  a  few  moments,  turn  your 
thoughts  to  the  day  of  general  judgment ;  **  that 
day  for  which  all  other  days  were  made."  That 
day,  while  it  covers  the  wicked  with  confusion, 
will  realize  the  young  Christian's  fondest  hopes. 
You  must  behold  all  its  solemnities.  Then  God 
"shall  bring  every  work  into  judgment,  with 
every  secret  thing,  whether  it  be  good,  or  whether 
it  be  evil."  "We  must  all  appear  before  the  judg- 
ment seat  of  Christ,  that  every  one  may  receive 
the  things  done  in  the  body,  according  to  that  he 
hath  done,  whether  it  be  good  or  bad."  *'I  saw  a 
great  white  throne,  and  him  that  sat  on  it,  from 
whose  face  the  earth  and  the  heaven  fled  away. 

Eccles.  xii.  14.  2  Cor.  v.  10,  11. 


UNIVERSAL,  FINAL  JUDGMENT.  233 

And  I  saw  the  dead,  small  and  great,  stand 
before  God:  and  the  books  were  ojDened :  and 
another  book  was  opened,  which  is  the  book  of 
life:  and  the  dead  were  judged  out  of  thosQ 
things  which  were  written  in  the  books,  according 
to  their  works.  When  the  Son  of  Man  shall 
come  in  his  gloj;y,  and  all  the  holy  angels  with 
him,  then  shall  he  sit  upon  the  throne  of  his 
glory  ;  and  before  him  shall  be  gathered  all  na- 
tions ;  and  he  shall  separate  them  one  from 
another,  as  a  shepherd  divideth  his  sheep  from 
the  goats  :  and  he  shall  set  the  sheep  on  his 
right-hand,  but  the  goats  on  the  left.  Then 
shall  the  King  say  unto  them  on  the  right-hand, 
Come,  ye  blessed  of  my  Father,  inherit  ihe 
kingdom  prepared  for  you  from  the  foundation  of 
the  world.  Then  shall  he  say  unto  them  on  the 
left  hand.  Depart  from  me,  ye  cursed,  into  ever- 
lasting fire,  prepared  for  the  devil  and  his  an- 
gels. And  these  shall  go  away  into  everlasting 
punishment ;  but  the  righteous  into  life  eternal." 
How  solemn  is  this  representation  —  how  infi- 
nitely so  will  be  the  reality !  Here  is  an  as- 
sembled world — all  generations  are  met  at  once 
— around  are  countless  angels,  spectators  of  the 
great  event — there  is  the  Lord  of  heaven,  en- 
throned as  the  Judge  eternal.  AYith  the  same 
ease  as  a  shepherd  distinguishes  and  parts  his 
sheep  and  goats,  does  the  Judge  divide  this 
mighty  multitude;  and  then  pronounces  that 
doom  which  v.ill  make  heaven's  eternal  mansions 
ring  with  praise,  or  hell's  tremendous  dungeons 
yell  with  horror. 

§  4.  Before  that  judgment  throne  you  and  I 
mu'^t  meet ;  there  must  I  account  for  the  motives 

Rev.  XX.  11.  12.  Matt.  xxt.  31,  &c 


234  SOLEMNITY  OF  THE  JUDGMENT  DAY. 

that  have  influenced  me  in  writinj;'  these  pag-es, 
and  you   for  the  improveinent  that  you  have 
made  of  them.     How  happily  will  you  meet 
that  day,  if  now  you  listen  to  your  God,  and 
choose  the  path  of  early  piety  and  peace  !     If 
you  now  remember    your    Creator    and    your 
Saviour,  he  will  remember  you^in  infinite  mercy 
then ;  for,  O  boundless  grace  !  the  eternal  Judge 
will  then  delight  to  honour  those  who  honoured 
him  betimes  below.     Could  you  now  behold  the 
Lord  in  that  glory,  what  trifles  compared  with 
his  favour,  would  all  that  life  can  give  appear ! 
Small  would  seem  the  value  of  the  universe,  in 
comparison  of  hearing  from  his  lips,  "  Cotne,  thou 
blessed!"     Riches,    pleasures,  joys,   splendour, 
would  be  vanity  itself;  the  passing  shadow  not 
so  empty,  nor  the  flying  feather  half  so  light. 
Even  crowns  and  kingdoms,  and  all  for  which 
the  soul  is  neglected,  would  appear  so  worthless, 
that  you  would  not  raise  a  finger  to  gain  them 
all.     If  you  partake  of  his  grace  here,  you  will 
see  him  there  as  your  beloved  Saviour  and  your 
kindest  friend.     Infinitely  welcome  will  be  those 
solemn  and  decisive  words  of  his,  that  will  fix 
your  happiness  for  ever :  "  Come,  ye  blessed  of  my 
Father,  inherit  the  khydom  prepaj-ed  for  you  from 
the  foundation  of  the  ivorld."     What  rapturous 
meditations  will  fill    their  souls  who  hear  this 
sentence  !  what  sweet  immortal  praises  flow  from 
their  lips  !      Early  piety  will  then  appear  true 
wisdom;   and  probably  the  far  greater  part  of 
that    glorious   company  will    be  seen   to    have 
sought  their  God  in  youth.     "  It  is  passed,"  may 
each  of  these  exalted  conquerors  exclaim  !    "It 
is  passed  :    \he  scene  at  which  I  trembled,  and 
yet  rejoiced  in  mortal  life,  is  passed ;  and  O ! 


HAPPINESS  OF  THE  RIGHTEOUS  THEN.        235 

the  prize  for  which  1  prayed,  the  blessedness 
for  which  I  looked  to  Jesus,  through  the  few 
years  of  mortal  life,  is  all  my  own  !  It  is  finish- 
ed !  my  conflicts  are  finished,  and  my  glory 
completed.  T  have  heard  the  sentence  of  my 
Judge ;  and  listened  while  an  assembled  world 
heard  theirs.  I  have  seen  the  Lord  Jesus,  that 
Divine  suflferer,  who  was  all  my  salvation  ;  whom 
on  earth  T  loved  and  trusted,  and  whom  I  fol- 
lowed, though  with  steps  much  too  unequal ;  and 
now  it  is  complete,  my  victory  is  complete  —  my 
fears  are  vanished  quite  away  —  my  hopes  are 
changed  to  certainty  —  but  never  did  my  highest 
hope  reach  this  triumphant  scene.  Blessing  and 
honour,  and  glory  and  power,  be  for  ever  and 
ever  to  him  that  sitteth  on  the  throne,  and  to  the 
Lamb  that  washed  me  from  my  sins  in  his  own 
blood." 

If  you,  my  young  friend,  give  yourself  to  the 
Lord,  even  the  prospect  of  that  day  may  yield 
you  pleasure.  A  young  Christian  once  observed, 
*'If  I  were  sure  the  day  of  judgment  were  to 
begin  wilhin  an  hour,  I  should  be  glad  with  all 
my  heart.  The  thought  of  its  certainty  and  near- 
ness is  more  refreshing  to  me  than  the  comforts 
of  the  whole  world." 

§  5.  Happy  will  they  be  who  reach  that  hea- 
venly country.  Its  glories  cannot  be  described. 
"Eye  hath  not  seen,  nor  ear  heard,  neither  have 
entered  into  the  heart  of  man,  the  things  which 
God  hath  prepared  for  them  that  love  liim."  "I 
beheld,  and  lo,  a  great  multitude,  which  no  man 
could  number,  of  all  nations,  and  kindreds,  and 
people,  and  tongues,  stood  before  tiie  throne,  and 
before  tlie  Lamb,  clothed  with  v/hite  robes,  and 

I  Cor.  ii.  9. 


236  HEAVEK. 

palms  in  their  hands;  and  cried/'  our  ''salva- 
tion" be  ascribed  "to  our  God  and  to  the  Lamb." 
"  These  are  they  which  came  out  of  great  tribu- 
lation, and  have  washed  their  robes,  and  made 
them  white  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb.  There- 
fore are  they  before  the  throne  of  God,  and  serve 
him  in  his  temple.  They  shall  hunger  no  more, 
neither  thirst  any  more  ;  neither  shall  the  sun 
light  on  them,  nor  any  heat.  For  the  Lamb, 
which  is  in  the  midst  of  the  throne,  shall  feed 
them,  and  shall  lead  them  unto  living  fountains 
of  waters;  and  God  shall  wipe  away  all  tears 
from  their  eyes.  And  he  will  dwell  with  them, 
and  they  shall  be  his  people,  and  God  himself 
shall  be  with  them,  and  be  their  God.  And 
there  shall  be  no  more  death,  neither  sorrow,  nor 
crying;  neither  shall  there  be  any  more  pain; 
for  the  former  things  are  passed  away,"  How 
pleasing  are  these  descriptions!  yet  the  most  re- 
mains untold.  In  that  peaceful  rest,  no  languor  or 
weariness  oppresses  the  active  spirit ;  no  disease 
or  death  shortens  the  endless  life.  No  feeble  in- 
fancy or  withering  age ;  no  aching  head,  nor 
painful  limb,  nor  troubled  heart  is  there.  No 
blasts  of  grief  there  blight  the  joy;  no  clouds  of 
distress  darken  the  eternal  day;  but  there  are 
spotless  purity,  peace,  never  disturbed,  and  hap- 
piness, for  ever  unalloyed.  There  they  whose 
names  are  w-ritten  in  the  Lamb's  book  of  life 
possess  mansions  not  made  with  hands;  and 
crowns  of  glory  that  shall  never  fade  away. 
The  "  righteous  will  shine  as  the  sun  in  the 
kingdom  of  their  Father;"  and  there,  "in  his 
presence  is  fulness  of  joy,  and  at  his  right-hand 
are    pleasures    for  evermore."     There  glorified 

Rer.  vii.  9. 14  — 17.      Rey.  xxi.  3,  4.      Matt.  xiii.  43.     Ps.  rvl.  11. 


THE  WORTH  OF  HEAVEN  ILLUSTRATED.      237 

saints  and  holy  angels  form  one  blessed  family 
in  the  presence  of  God  and  the  Lamb.  O  hap- 
py day  !  when  all  who  have  followed  Jesus 
here,  shall  dwell  with  Jesus  there.  O  happy 
world,  where  all  are  happy  !  Could  the  Chris- 
tian gain  a  glimpse  of  that,  how  would  he  pass 
the  rest  of  his  time  below,  as  an  exile  longing 
for  his  home !  O  my  young  friend  !  flee  at  once 
to  that  Saviour  who  would  give  this  heaven  to 
you ;  then  soon  will  his  welcome  voice  prove  to 
you,  that  early  piety  is  a  blessed  choice  indeed. 
§  6.  Think  of  the  state  of  those  who  in  past 
ages  sought  or  slighted  this  boundless  blessed- 
ness; and  O!  let  their  condition  now  quicken 
your  desires  for  eternal  life.  Paul  once  stood  a 
prisoner  at  the  bar  of  Festus,  and  Agrippa  said 
to  him,  "Almost  thou  per  suad est  me  to  be  a  Chris- 
tian;'' but,  alas  !  it  was  but  almost.  Of  how  lit- 
tle value  now  are  all  those  things  which  once  de- 
terred him  from  seeking  eternal  life,  by  embrac- 
ing a  despised  gospel !  Seventeen  hundred  years 
have  rolled  away  since  Agrippa  departed  from 
this  world,  and  all  his  pleasures  and  all  his  splen- 
dour are  no  more.  The  crown  he  wore  exists  no 
longer  —  the  pomps  of  life  have  for  many  ages 
forsaken  him.  What  are  they  now  to  his  im- 
mortal soul !  All  for  which  he  neglected  eter- 
nity is  gone.  Paul  stood  in  bonds  before  him, 
but  his  bonds  are  vanished  ;  he  no  more  endures 
the  pain  of  these ;  but  the  blessed  effects  of  his 
knowing  a  Saviour's  love  endure.  The  lustre  of 
his  crown  outshines  Agrippa's  perishing  diadem, 
and  never  will  it  lose  one  ray  of  its  glory.  The 
streams  of  his  happiness  are  undiminished,  and 
will  continue  so  for  evermore.  Altogether  a 
Christian  then,  and  altogether  a  bright  inhabitant 


238   GOD  AND  HEAVEN  AN  ETERNAL  PORTION. 

of  heaven  now.  Above  seventeen  hundred  years 
has  Agrippa  lost  his  fleeting  honours,  pomps,  and 
pleasures.  Above  seventeen  hundred  years  has 
Paul  forsaken  prisons,  stripes,  and  bonds;  has 
taken  possession  of  his  unfading  inheritance;  and 
lives  and  reigns  in  the  kingdom  of  his  God.  And 
let  these  years  be  repeated  ten  thousand  times 
over,  they  would  form  but  a  little  span  of  that 
eternity,  which  is  now  the  only  measure  of  his 
happiness,  his  splendour,  and  his  triumph. 
Which,  my  young  friend,  chose  the  better  part? 
you  cannot  surely  hesitate  to  say.  O  choose  the 
same  I  By  all  the  blessedness  of  a  happy  eter- 
nity, be  persuaded,  with  Paul,  to  count  all  things 
loss  that  you  may  tvin  Christ  and  be  found  in  him, 
not  having  your  own  righteousness  as  your  trust, 
hut  that  which  is  by  faith  in  Christ.  Be  wise  for 
eternity.  Devote  your  youth  to  God.  Remem- 
ber him  now,  and  he  will  remember  you  in  mer- 
cy for  ever.  He  will  be  your  God  here,  and 
your  God  in  that  bright  world,  millions  of  years 
beyond  the  day  when  sun,  moon,  and  stars  shall 
be  blotted  from  the  firmament.  And  the  time 
shall  come  when,  if  it  should  be  asked,  "How 
long  has  that  glorious  spirit  been  an  inhabitant 
of  heaven  ?  How  long  has  it  been  enjoying  God 
and  itself  in  that  state  of  perfection  ?  The  an- 
swer would  be  such,  that  a  line  reaching  even  to 
the  remotest  star,  would  not  be  able  to  contain 
the  number  of  ages,  nor  would  millions  of  years 
be  sufficient  to  number  them  down."  ()!  then, 
remember  eternity.  It  is  said  that  a  pious  man 
once  had  this  question  put  to  him:  "Why  do 
you  spend  so  much  time  in  reading,  meditation, 
and  prayer  ?"     He,  in  reply,  lifted  up  his  hands 


ETERNITY.  239 

and  eyes  to  heaven,  and  solemnly  said  —  "For 
ever  —  For  ever  —  For  ever.'* 

§  7.  O  for  ever  !  for  ever !  for  ever !  Think 
of  this;  and  think  that  early  acquaintance  with 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  leads  to  all  this  eternal 
blessedness  !  Eternity  is  the  brightest  jewel  in 
the  triumphant  believer's  crown.  Eternity  makes 
heaven  a  heaven  indeed.  If  the  Christian's 
life  here,  instead  of  being  crowned  with  nu- 
merous blessings,  were  but  one  scene  of  dis- 
tress, yet  with  eternal  life  as  his  portion,  how- 
short  would  be  the  sorrow !  how  long,  how 
lasting  the  joy  I  how  hasty  the  pain  !  how  end- 
less the  delight !  how  few  the  moments  of  grief 
and  conflict !  how  many  the  ages  of  triumph 
and  bliss !  Earth  you  cannot  have  long,  but 
heaven  you  may  have  for  ever.  Here  you  can- 
not long  enjoy  even  the  poor  fading  pleasures 
of  time,  but  there  you  may  possess  a  whole 
eternity  of  blessedness.  What  sweet  words  must 
"for  ever  and  ever"  be  to  those  happy  spirits 
that  have  entered  heavenly  rest.  "  This  para- 
dise for  ever.  This  mansion  of  our  God  for 
ever.  This  blessed  society  for  ever.  This  tran- 
quil rest  and  calm  repose,  this  peace  and  love 
for  ever.  This  pure  unbounded  happiness. 
This  world  of  bliss,  and  light,  and  joy  for  ever  !" 
Infinite  ages  shall  roll  away  ;  vast  eternity  still 
glide  along ;  but  not  one  sorrow  will  they  know  ; 
not  one  sigh  will  escape  their  hearts ;  not  one 
tear  drop  from  their  eyes  ;  not  one  joy  will  they 
lose  ;  not  one  passing  cloud  wdll  bedim  their 
day.  In  Immanuel's  land  will  they  ever  dwell ; 
still  will  they  enjoy  the  blessings  of  their  Fa- 
therms  love,  and  of  their  Redeemei*'s  favour,  in 
the  highest  perfection,  nor  ever  fear  the  loss  of 


240  ETERNITY. 

what  they  have;  and  O  it  will  be  so  great,  that 
they  will  never  wish  for  more  !  For  ever  and 
ever  is  the  measure  of  their  bliss ;  and  O  v/hat 
is  the  for  ever  of  heaven  !  None  on  earth  can 
describe  it ;  none  comprehend  eternity.  Were 
the  house  you  inhabit  to  be  filled  with  the  finest 
sand,  and  then  emptied  so  slowly  that  but  the 
smallest  grain  should  be  taken  out  once  in  ten 
thousand  years,  how  many  millions  of  ages 
would  pass  away  before  the  last  grain  were  re- 
moved !  yet  compared  with  eternity,  these  count- 
less years  would  be  like  the  twinkling  of  an  eye. 
Were  the  mighty  seas,  which  dash  their  waves 
upon  so  many  shores,  to  be  suddenly  chang- 
ed into  one  mass  of  ink,  imd  then  to  be  em- 
ployed in  numbering  down  figures,  and  the 
least  figure  to  signify  a  million  of  years,  what 
countless  ages  would  be  numbered  down  before 
the  seas  were  emptied ;  yet  he  who  wrote  the  last 
figure  might  say,  "These  ages  are  not  eternity; 
they  are  nothingness  itself,  compared  with  that : 
—  less  than  one  drop  to  all  the  sea ;  less  than 
one  moment  to  all  these  infinite  years :  they  are 
like  a  tale  that,  is  told,  or  a  sigh  that  is  forgot- 
ten." Were  this  vast  world  one  mass  of  sand, 
and  were  the  Most  High,  by  his  infinite  power, 
to  create  as  many  worlds  as  there  might  be  grains 
of  sand  in  this,  and  were  he  then  to  commission 
a  ministering  angel  to  destroy  them  all,  by  re- 
moving grain  after  grain,  yet  so  slowly  that  he 
should  remove  but  one  grain  in  a  million  of 
years,  what  millions,  and  millions,  and  millions 
of  years,  beyond  all  thought  and  conception, 
would  pass  away  before  one  world  were  thus  de- 
stroyed !  and  O  what  before  all  these  numbers 
were  !     What  an  eternity  would  be  here  !     An 


ETERNITY.  241 

eternity !  no,  not  a  moment  compared  with  it. 
Sand  after  sand  would  be  removed,  though  at  so 
infinitely  slow  a  rate ;  world  after  world  would 
be  destroyed ;  and  the  angel  would  finish  his 
task ;  but  finish  not  eternity.  Eternity  would  be 
eternity  still.  One  grain  of  sand  would  bear 
some  proportion  to  these  numberless  worlds ; 
one  moment  to  these  countless  millions  of  ages  ; 
but  all  these  would  bear  none  to  eternity; — when 
they  were  past,  it  would  still  be  "  beginning — 
rather  beginning  to  begin."  And  had  we  lived 
through  these  inconceivably  countless  years, 
when  we  had  seen  them  pass,  and  even  pass  a 
thousand  times  over,  we  might  still  say,  "But  a 
moment  of  eternity  is  passed."  Beyond  ages 
that  we  might  almost  deem  an  eternity,  other 
eternities  would  rise  in  endless  succession.  Such 
is  the  for  ever  in  heaven.  Eternity  is  yours,  and 
it  is  mine.  Tn  a  short  time,  the  hand  that  has 
written  these  pages,  and  the  eye  that  reads  them 
must  be  turned  to  dust ;  but  in  eternity  we  must 
live  for  ever  and  ever,  the  companions  of  angels 
or  of  devils. 

A  PRAYER,  IMPLORING  A  PARTICIPATION  IN  THE  BLESS- 
INGS ENUMERATED  IN  THIS  AND  THE  PRECEDING 
CHAPTER. 

Great  and  gracious  God,  in  thy  hand  is  the 
breath  of  every  living  thing,  and  the  life  of  all 
mankind.  From  thee  I  have  derived  that  exis- 
tence which  thou  hast  determined  to  make  as 
lasting  as  thy  own.  But  though  immortality 
must  be  my  portion  in  the  future  world,  yet  I 
know  that  in  this  it  is  appointed  unto  all  men 
once  to  die;  and  I  am  hastening  to  that  hour, 
which  will  more  than  realize  all  my  hopes  or  all 
my  fears.     Behold  me  supplicating  mercy  at  thy 


242  PRAYER  —  FOR  GRACE   IN   LIFE. 

footstool;  and  in,  and  through  thy  Son,  make  me 
a  partaker  of  that  grace,  which  shall  issue  in 
everlasting  glory. 

How  solemn,  great  God,  is  the  prospect  of  ap- 
pearing in  thy  presence !  How  shall  I  endure 
that  awfal,  that  amazing  change,  which  will  then 
take  place  in  my  condition  !  Plow  shall  I  meet 
thee  !  Wilt  thou  welcome  me  to  thy  presence, 
or  bid  me  depart  for  ever  I  O  let  this  doubt  be 
resolved  before  I  die  !  Blessed,  for  ever  blessed 
be  thy  name!  that,  in  thy  glorious  gospel,  thou 
hast  shown  how  a  sinner  like  me  may  become 
just  before  thee;  and  O  let  the  grace  there  dis- 
played prepare  me  for-  the  solemnities  of  death 
and  eternity.  May  I  view  life  as  a  moment,  and 
esteem  it  my  chief  concern,  in  this  world,  to  glo- 
rify thee,  and  reach  everlasting  rest.  May  the 
blessed  Jesus  blot  out  my  sins  in  his  own  blood, 
and  thus  prepare  me  to  appear  with  comfort  in 
thy  sight.  May  my  youth,  my  strength,  my 
health,  my  heart,  my  soul,  my  life,  my  all,  be 
henceforth  consecrated  to  thee.  Number  me 
Avith  thy  children,  and  give  to  me  the  disposition 
of  a  child ;  with  filial  love,  with  patient  submis- 
sion, with  holy  delight,  may  I  look  up  to  thee; 
and  may  the  language  of  my  soul  be,  Abba, 
Father.  May  I  enjoy  such  assurance  of  accep- 
tance in  the  beloved,  as  will  enable  me  to  "  read 
my  title  clear  to  mansions  in  the  skies."  May 
I  know  that  he  has  loved  ME  and  given  himself 
for  ME.  Only  bless  me,  O  Lord,  with  this  as- 
surance, and  death  itself  shall  be  welcome  to 
me !  Unite  with  me,  in  faith  and  hope,  every 
friend  I  fondly  love;  and  may  t.hey,  too,  go  to 
Jesus,  bearing  his  reproach  ;  ;iiid  thus  prepare  us 
all  to  join  in  those  triumphant  strains  —  O  death, 


AND  SUPPORT  IN  DEATH.        243 

where  is  thy  sting !  O  grave,  where  is  thy  vic- 
tory !  Thanks  be  to  God,  who  giveth  us  the  vic- 
tory through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

At  length,  O  most  merciful  Father !  the  so- 
lemn hour  will  come,  and  I  must  die.  O  in  that 
hour,  when  my  flesh  and  heart  fail,  be  thou  the 
strength  of  my  heart ;  may  thy  rod  and  thy  staff 
comfort  me !  O  in  that  hour,  when  all  the  ten- 
derness of  sorrowing  friends  will  avail  me  not, 
be  thou  more  to  me  than  all  the  world  !  Disperse^ 
by  thy  presence,  the  gloom  that  shades  the  grave; 
and  brighten  that  otherwise  dark  valley  with  the 
sweet  dawnings  of  immortal  day  !  Cheer  my  de- 
parting spirit  with  the  consolations  of  thy  love; 
and  may  thine  everlasting  arms  be  my  support ! 
In  the  last  hours  of  dissolving  nature,  enable  me 
to  testify  the  value  of  thy  love,  and  may  those, 
who  witness  my  dying  moments,  see  me  favour- 
ed with  such  blessings  as  shall  make  them  feel 
that  early  piety  is  real  wisdom.  Gladly  may  I 
take  my  farewell  of  earth,  and  leave  friends  and 
kindred  without  regret,  assured  of  going  to  dear- 
er, better  friends  above.  Then  may  He,  who 
suffered  for  me,  be  the  foundation  of  all  my  hope; 
and  leaning  my  languishing  and  dying  head  up- 
on his  compassionate  arm,  may  I  breathe  my 
last,  and  sleep  in  Jesus. 

And  when,  O  Lord,  I  am  numbered  with  the 
dead,  when  my  last  hour  is  finished,  and  all  the 
joys  or  sorrows  of  life  concluded  for  ever,  O  then 
may  those  ministering  angels,  that  watch  thy  chil- 
dren's steps,  become  my  convoy  to  the  abodes  of 
bliss!  And  may  my  joyful  spirit,  though  be- 
reft of  the  sweet  converse  of  those  it  held  most 
deaj  below,  yet  find  that  it  shall  for  ever  hold 
much    sweeter    converse  with  angelic    friends. 


244  PRAYER  —  ADMISSION  TO  HEAVEN. 

Then  may  an  abundant  entrance  he  administered 
unto  me  into  the  everlasting  kingdom  of  ray  Lord 
and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ.  May  he  introduce  me 
into  thy  presence ;  there,  with  all  thy  saints  of 
ancient  days,  in  glorious  happiness  to  wait  the 
still  fuller  accomplishment  of  thy  promises  when 
time  itself  shall  hnish.  There,  O  my  God,  may 
I  exult  in  thy  presence,  even  while  those  I  left 
behind  attend  this  feeble  body  to  its  last  long 
home.  AVhile  they,  with  affectionate  tears,  com- 
mit "  earth  to  earth,  ashes  to  ashes,  dust  to  dust," 
O  may  I  be  rejoicing  in  having  reached  that  land 
Vv'here  a  sigh  was  never  uttered,  nor  a  tear  ever 
shed.  And,  merciful  Father,  if  friends  or  rela- 
tives should  survive  me  that  know  thee  not,  O 
may  my  death  be  their  life !  and  may  they  go 
from  my  grave  to  prepare  for  their  own  ! 

And  when  the  period  for  that  state  of  interme- 
diate glory,  which  thy  word  reveals,  shall  have 
past,  may  my  sleeping  dust  arise  to  the  resur- 
rection of  life;  enraptured  may  I  view  the  Judge 
eternal  on  his  great  white  throne;  with  gladness 
may  I  hear  the  last  trumpet  sound,  and  the  last 
thunders  roll ;  with  pleasure  see  the  last  light- 
nings play,  and  the  stormy  scenes  of  time  con- 
clude. And  O  from  the  kind  hand  of. Jesus, 
may  even  I  receive  that  croivn  of  life,  ivhich  fa- 
deth  not  aivay ;  the  crown,  ivhich  the  Lord,  the 
righteous  Judge,  ivill  give,  at  that  day,  to  all  that 
love  his  appearing. 

Then,  O  my  most  gracious  God,  fixed  in 
eternal  rest,  then,  blessed  with  all  the  bliss  of 
heaven,  may  I  with  all  thy  ransomed  family  unite 
in  rendering  thee  praises  for  those  infinite  won- 
ders of  redeeming  love,  for  which  eternity  itself 
will  never  praise  thee  enough.    Then  may  I  and 


NO  GOOD  WITHOUT  RELIGION.  245 

millions  more  unite  in  that  sweet  song,  "Worthy- 
is  the  Lamb  that  was  slain  to  receive  power,  and 
riches,  and  wisdom,  and  strength,  and  honour, 
and  glory,  and  blessing.  Blessing,  and  honour, 
and  glory,  and  power,  be  to  him  that  sitteth  up- 
on the  throne,  and  unto  the  Lamb  for  ever  and 
ever."     Amen. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

NO    REAL    GOOD    POSSESSED    BY    THOSE   WHO    ARE 
DESTITUTE  OF  RELIGION. 

§  L  Those  considerations  from  which  I  have 
hitherto  endeavoured  to  show  the  in6nite  impor- 
tance of  early  piety,  have  been  mostly  of  a  pleas- 
ing kind;  but  if  you  be  one  on  whom  all  these 
have  been  urged  in  vain,  permit  me  now  more 
briefly  to  display  the  value  of  religion,  by  pre- 
senting to  your  view  some  of  the  dreadful  evils 
to  which  the  want  of  it  will  expose  you. 

Consider  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus  to  an 
amiable  youth,  "  One  thing  thou  lackest."  He 
wanted  that  one  thing,  wdiich  is  of  infinitely  more 
importance  than  every  thin^  united  besides. 
Humble  religion  is  the  best  of  blessings,  and  the 
want  of  it 

"  Is  worse  than  hunger,  poverty,  and  pain, 
And  all  the  transitory  ills  below." 

Religion  is  so  truly  the  one  important  blessing, 
that  it  would,  in  the  end,  make  up  for  the  want 
of  every  thing,  while  all  earthly  blessings  united 
can  never  supply  its  want.  ^Yere  the  whole 
world  your  own,  it  could  not  give  you  real  peace 
in  life  \  it  could  not  quiet  the  stings  of  conscience ; 


246  IRRELIGION  DEPRIVES  THE  SOUL 

it  could  not  ease  you  in  the  hour  of  pain,  nor 
support  you  on  the  bed  of  death  ;  nor  obtain  for 
you  a  place  in  heaven.  If  you  possess  friends, 
the  most  faithful,  endeared,  and  affectionate,  yet 
they  cannot  supply  the  want  of  his  friendship, 
whose  favour  is  better  than  life.  They  cannot 
drive  sickness,  pain,  or  death  away ;  nor  cheer 
your  trembling  soul  when  going  to  meet  an  in- 
jured God;  or  when  standing  at  his  awful  bar. 
Helpless  comforters  would  they  then  be;  nor 
could  their  prayers,  or  tears,  or  agonies,  arrest 
the  dreadful  sentence,  "  Depart  from  me,  ye  curs- 
ed." Neither  in  God's  sight  will  any  personal, 
any  mental,  or  even  any  moral  recommendations 
stand  in  the  stead  of  humble  piety.  "  You  imist 
be  born  again,"  or  never  enter  heaven.  Without 
that  divine  change,  God  will  look  upon  you  as  an 
object  of  abhorrence;  and  all  that  is  most  pleas- 
ing in  human  esteem,  will  no  more  recommend 
you  to  him,  than  dressing  a  putrid  corpse  in  fine 
apparel  would  do  to  recommend  it  to  man.  The 
richest  dress  could  not  make  such  a  melancholy 
object  pleasing;  but  if  life,  and  the  bloom  of 
health  and  youth  were  restored  to  it,  then  it  would 
be  so,  though  in  the  meanest  garb.  While  desti- 
tute of  religion,  you,  in  the  divine  sight,  are  only 
a  disgusting  mass  of  corruption  and  iniquity ; 
nor  can  the  bloom  of  health  and  youth,  or  the 
charms  of  beauty,  nor  the  attractions  of  all  the 
pleasing  endowments  imaginable,  hide  from  the 
eye  of  God  the  loathsomeness  of  ruling  sin.  He 
is  declared  to  hate  all  ivorkers  of  iniquity.  (Ps.  v. 
5.)  Even  to  be  satisfied  with  being  almost  a 
Christian,  is  to  continue  destitute  of  all  real 
good;  you  would  then  be  like  a  ivhited  sepulchre, 
fair  without,  but  within  full  of  uncleanness.     In 


OF  NUMBERLESS  BLESSINGS.  247 

this  way  you  would  go  to  hell,  as  it  were,  by  the 
gate  of  heaven.  But  if  your  nature  were  renew- 
ed, and  the  divine  image  formed  on  your  soul, 
then  though  you  were  on  earth  most  despised, 
yet  God  would  approve  and  love  you. 

§  2.  The  want  of  religion  is  a  want  which  de- 
prives you  of  a  thousand  benefits  and  comforts. 
You  live,  without  true  wisdom,  for  the  fear  of  the 
Lord  is  the  beginning  of  wisdom,  and  the  knowledge 
of  the  Holg  is  understanding.  They  must  be 
strangers  to  wisdom  who  are  strangers  to  Christ, 
the  wisdom  and  the  power  of  God. — You  want  the 
forgiveness  of  sins  ;  all  your  crimes  are  upon  you, 
and  the  least  of  them  is  heavy  enough  to  sink 
you  to  hell.  Forgiveness  is  the  portion  of  those 
who  have  come  to  Jesus  for  it.  — You  want  com- 
posure of  mind  and  inward  peace.  The  peace 
which  passeth  all  miderstanding  cannot  be  yours. 
—  You  may  be  asleep  in  sin. — Your  conscience 
may  be  seared  as  with  a  hot  iron ;  or  you  may 
be  indulging  dreams  of  future  happiness,  which 
never  will  be  realized ;  but  the  true  peace  of  a 
humble  and  pious  mind  cannot  be  yours  till  you 
are  Christ's.  He  left  the  blessed  legacy  of  Peace, 
not  to  the  world  but  to  his  own.  —  You  want 
peace  with  God.  There  is  no  peace,  saith  my  God, 
to  the  wicked.  You  are  naturally  alienated  from 
God  by  sin,  and  till  reconciled  to  him,  God  must 
be  to  you  an  awful  Judge,  and  you  a  rebel,  de- 
serving his  severe  displeasure  ;  and  boundless  as 
his  love  is  to  those  that  return  to  him  by  Christ, 
yet  to  others  he  is  a  consuming  fire.  —  You  want 
his  fatherly  care.  Tn  the  hour  of  distress  you 
have  no  God  to  go  to  that  you  can  justly  call 
your  friend  and  Father.     His  children  may  ap- 

Prov.  ix.  10.        Isa.  Ivii.  21.        Heb,  xii.  29. 


248  POVERTY  AND  MISERY 

proach  him  as  their  own ;  the  language  they  are 
taught  is,  Abba  Father  ;  but  you  are  destitute  of 
this  sweet  interest  in  him.  —  You  want  all  inter- 
est in  the  love  of  Christ;  how  tender  is  his  af- 
fection to  his  peojDle  I  but  you  have  no  part  nor 
lot  in  this  matter.  It  is  a  treasure  in  which  you 
have  no  share.  Unhappy  youth  !  to  be  without 
a  Saviour's  love.  Wretched  creature !  to  have 
no  part  in  that  treasure,  compared  with  which 
the  treasures  of  a  thousand  worlds  would  be  as 
dross  and  dust.  You  live  without  a  part  in  any 
of  the  blessings  Christ  bestows.  He  is  no  Sa- 
viour of  yours,  though  you  may  insult  him  with 
the  title  of  Saviour.  He  is  no  shepherd  of  yours, 
for  you  refuse  to  submit  to  his  gentle  yoke,  and 
are  not  one  of  his  flock.  If  you  call  the  blessings 
of  his  gospel,  grace  and  glory  yours,  you  are  de- 
luding your  own  soul,  for  they  will  never  belong 
to  you  till  you  belong  to  him.  It  is  to  his  sheep 
only  that  he  gives  eternal  life;  but  you  will  not 
come  to  him  that  you  may  have  life.  Calling  him 
Lord,  Lord,  will  avail  you  not,  for  he  has  solemn- 
ly declared,  "  Not  every  one  that  saith  unto  me 
Lord,  Lord,  shall  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  hea- 
ven ;  but  he  that  doeth  the  will  of  my  Father 
which  is  in  heaven.  Many  will  say  to  me  in 
that  day,  Lord,  Lord,  have  we  not  prophesied 
in  thy  name;  and  in  thy  yame  have  cast  out  de- 
vils ?  and  in  thy  name  done  many  wonderful 
works  ?  And  then  I  will  profess  unto  them,  I 
never  knew  you  :  depart  .from  me,  ye  that  work 
iniquity."  Thus  you  have  no  Saviour  to  take 
your  sins  away ;  no  intercessor  to  plead  for  you 
before  the  eternal  Father's  throne;  no  shepherd 
to  guide  you  through  the  wilderness  of  life. 

Gal.  iv.  6.  John,  v.  46.  Matt  rii.  2L 


OF  THE  IRRELIGIOUS.  249 

Bright,  indeed,  are  the  hopes  of  those  who  are 
truly  the  young-  disciples  of  the  Lord  ;  but  none 
of  those  hopes  are  yours.  O,  the  blest  eternal 
mansions  of  purity  and  joy  !  the  sweet  immortal 
morning  of  never-ending  day  !  O,  the  kingdom 
of  God!  the  smile  of  his  countenance!  the  to- 
kens of  his  love  I  O,  the  welcome  of  a  Saviour  ! 
and  the  crowns  of  glory  that  he  purchased,  when 
wearing  a  crown  of  thorns  !  O,  the  blessed  soci- 
ety above  I  the  bright  natives  of  that  higher 
world,  or  revered  saints  from  this !  These  are 
the  hopes,  that  the  dwelling,  those  the  friends, 
that  the  humble  Christian  shall  shortly  possess. 
But,  alas !  for  you  no  glorious  mansions  are 
prepared;  no  Saviour  smiles ;  no  heaven  blooms; 
no  immortal  day  shines  for  you.  No  crown  of 
life  awaits  you  ;  and  none  are  ready  to  welcome 
your  entrance  on  eternity  but  those  infernal 
beings,  who  with  hellish  joy  may  exclaim.  Art 
thou  become  like  unto  usP 

You  want  also  those  blessings  that  should 
comfort  you  in  death.  All  the  false  supports 
and  deluding  pleasures  of  the  world  will  then  be 
vanity  of  vanities,  and  what  have  you  besides? 
—  You  want  a  title  to  the  bliss  of  heaven.  —  You 
have  no  reason  for  supposing  that  your  name  is 
"  written  in  the  book  of  life  ;"  for  "  he  that  be- 
lieveth  not  shall  be  damned,"  and  *'^  except  you  be 
converted  you  shall  not  enter  into  the  kingdom  of 
heaven."  Heaven  is  no  home  of  yours.  The 
friends  of  Christ  and  the  children  of  God  are  the 
heirs  of  it;  for  they  are  *•  begotten  again  to  a 
lively  hope  of  an  inheritance  incorruptible,  and 
undefiled,  that  fadeth  not  away,  reserved  in  hea- 
ven for  them ;"  but  the  followers  of  the  world  are 

Mark,  xvi.  16.  Matt,  xviii.  3.  1  Peter,  i.  4. 

Y3 


250  MISERY  AND  DANGER 

the  children  of  Satan,  and  have  no  part  there ; 
they  are  "  the  children  of  wrath,  Avithout  Christ 
and  without  hope."  (Ephes.  ii.  3.  12.)  Unhappy 
young  man,  or  young  woman !  this  is  too  surely 
your  sad  condition.  O  wretched  creature  I  how 
poor  are  you  in  the  midst  of  all  you  may  possess ! 
how  truly  miserable,  in  the  midst  of  all  your  gai- 
eties and  pleasures  !  Poor  trifler,  you  have  not 
one  cheering  promise  in  the  book  of  God.  If 
you  turn  to  God,  you  will  have  many,  but  now 
you  have  not  one.  Not  one  promise  that  you 
shall  be  kept  out  of  hell,  even  for  one  month ;  but 
many  awful  threats,  that  if  you  die  as  you  are, 
you  shall  be  turned  into  that  flaming  prison. 
Poor,  indeed,  are  you,  all  you  have  will  leave  you 
soon.  Your  hasty  pleasures  will  soon  depart, 
and  you  must  lie  down  in  the  dust  of  death;  and 
leave  for  ever  the  world  you  love  so  well;  while 
a  dreadful  and  neglected  eternity  will  appear  be- 
fore your  trembling  soul. 

§  3.  The  want  of  religion  not  merely  deprives 
you  of  numberless  blessings,  but  exposes  you  to 
numberless  evi»ls.  While  without  this  one  thing 
needful,  sin  in  one  form  or  another,  will  reign 
over  you.  You  will  be  the  easy  prey  of  temp- 
tations ;  companions  in  folly  will  lead  you  astray, 
and  Satan  guide  you  in  the  way  to  destruction. 
Dreadful  are  the  evils  that  sin  occasions.  An 
old  writer  has  truly  said,  "  It  brings  upon  us  in- 
finite sorrows,  plagues,  miseries,  and  the  most 
fearful  judgments,  blindness  of  mind,  hardness 
of  heart,  horrors  of  conscience,  vexation  and  an- 
guish of  soul,  bondage  under  Satan,  the  prince 
of  darkness,  and  banishment  from  God,  the 
fountain  of  all  bliss ;  and  mischiefs  more  than 
either  tongue  can  tell,  or  heart  can  think.     It 


OF  THE  IRRELIGIOUS.  251 

kills  an  immortal  soul  eternally,  which  is  more 
than  all  the  bloody  men  on  earth  or  all  the  des- 
perate devils  in  hell  can  do.  It  will  bring  upon 
it  in  the  "^vorld  to  come  sorrows  without  end,  and 
past  imagination."  How  sad  an  end  is  this  to  a 
few  short  years  of  sinful  delight ! 

§  4.  The  want  of  religion  is  a  want  which 
spoils  all  other  blessings.  The  longer  the  hum- 
ble Christian  lives,  the  more  he  may  advance  in 
grace,  and  ripen  for  a  crown  of  brighter  glory ; 
but  if  you  live  without  religion,  life  will  be  no 
blessing  to  you.  The  longer  you  live  the  worse 
will  be  your  guilt,  the  more  numerous  your  sins, 
and  the  greater  your  future  condemnation.  For 
you  in  vain  the  Saviour  died.  His  gospel  is  to 
you  the  savour  of  death  unto  death.  For  you  in 
vain  apostles  preached,  and  martyrs  bled,  to  hand 
a  gracious  religion  down.  For  you  in  vain  the 
followers  of  Jesus  pray.  The  sun  shines  on  you 
in  vain,  for  it  shines  to  light  yoa  to  destruction. 
The  years  roll  on  in  vain,  for  every  added  year 
increases  your  load  of  guilt.  Health  blesses  you 
in  vain,  for  your  soul  is  sickening  to  eternal 
death.  All  the  mercies  of  this  world,  and  all 
that  respect  the  next,  are  spoiled  or  lost  to  you, 
and  are,  "but  like  a  talent  of  gold,  to  a  man 
sinking  in  the  sea,  which  only  serves  to  plunge 
him  deeper  in  ruin."  So  that,  harsh  as  it  may 
sound,  it  would  really  have  been  better  for  you 
to  have  been  cut  off  in  your  sins,  and  been  sent 
to  hell  years  ago,  than  to  live  here  adding  to  the 
number  of  your  sins,  and  then  sink  to  endless 
wretchedness.  Yes,  unhappy  youth,  if  you  con- 
tinue careless  of  religion,  every  added  year  will 
prove  a  curse  instead  of  a  blessing.  The  longer 
you  live  in  this  world,  the  deeper  will  be  your 


252   IRRELIGION  CHANGES  BLESSINGS  INTO  CURSES. 

misery  in  the  next.  The  more  mercies  you  en- 
joy, the  more  guilt  you  contract.  The  more  bless- 
ings you  receive  from  God,  the  baser  is  your  in- 
gratitude and  sin  in  refusing  to  give  him  your 
youth.  A  dying  profligate  once  said,  "I  have 
been  too  strong  for  Omnipotence.  I  have  pluck- 
ed down  ruin."  Thus,  by  carelessness  and  neg- 
lect, you  change  God's  blessings  into  curses. 
Oh,  what  would  you  think  of  a  sick  man,  who, 
by  some  fatal  power,  should  change  all  the  reme- 
dies, by  which  a  kind  physician  would  restore 
his  health,  into  a  subtle  poison,  which  should  oc- 
casion him  years  of  misery,  and  torture  him  to 
death !  Distracted  wretch  !  you  might  exclaim,  all 
are  kind  to  him  but  himself !  how  happy  might  he 
be,  if  he  felt  half  the  pity  for  himself,  that  others 
feel  for  him  !  Do  you  slight  your  God  ?  You 
act  this  part;  rather  a  far  worse  than  this;  you 
change  his  healing  medicines  into  poison ;  his 
blessings  into  curses.  You  heap  up  wrath  against 
the  day  of  wrath.  By  the  very  mercies  of  God, 
you  are  preparing  matter  for  your  own  torment; 
not  merely  through  a  few  fleeting  years,  but 
through  a  dreadful  eternity.  Distracted  youth  ! 
did  you  feel  half  that  pity  for  your  own  soul,  that 
others  feel  for  you,  how  happy  would  you  be- 
come !  how  many  are  kind  to  you  !  how  cruel 
are  you  to  yourself!  O,  cease  thus  to  run  in  the 
path  of  destruction,  you  may  yet  find  that  one 
thing,  the  want  of  which  is  so  dreadful.  O,  seek 
it  now,  for  they  that  seek  the  Lord  early,  shall  find 
him. 

"  While  Jesus  speaks,  his  voice  regard, 

And  seize  the  tender  hour ; 
Humbly  implore  the  promised  grace. 

And  God  will  give  the  pow'r." 


253 
CHAPTER  XV. 

THE  YOUNG  SINNER'S  INGRATITUDE  TO  GOD,  AND 
CRUELTY  TO  HIS  OWN  SOUL,  URGED  AS  REASONS 
FOR  EMBRACING  RELIGION  IN  YOUTH. 

§1.1  HAVE  already,  my  young  friend,  shown 
you,  that  by  the  piety  of  youth  you  may  testify 
the  most  gratitude  for  divine  love ;  and  that  God 
would  remember  this  kindness  of  your  youth,  to 
your  infinite  advantage :  but  perhaps  you  still 
remain  undecided.  I  beseech  you  then,  spend  a 
few  moments  in  meditating  on  the  unkindness  of 
a  youth  of  sin  to  God,  and  on  its  cruelty  to  your- 
self Indulge  those  thoughts  that  may  now  be 
useful ;  but  which  will  otherwise  fill  your  last 
hours  with  horror,  and  plant  your  dying  bed  with 
thorns. 

While  you  continue  careless  of  religion,  you 
lead  a  life  of  base  ingratitude  to  the  God  that 
gave  you  being.  Ingratitude  has  been  pronoun- 
ced 

"  Of  vices  first,  most  infamous,  and  most  accurs'd." 
It  is  indescribably  base  when  manifested  to  a 
friend  or  parent,  in  this  world  ;  but  baser  still  is 
ingratitude  to  God.  Has  not  he  given  you  life, 
and  crowned  that  life  with  comfort?  Whence 
flows  the  ease  of  health  ?  or  whence  the  cheerful 
vigour  of  youth  but  from  his  kindness  to  you  ? 
Whence  the  friends,  the  parents,  the  comforts 
that  you  have  enjoyed?  All  are  the  gifts  of 
God.  He  has  blessed  you  here,  and  in  the  gift 
of  Jesus,  provided  for  your  blessedness  hereafter; 
and  does  all  this  goodness  merit  no  thankful 
return?  Shall  God  be  thus  kind  to  you,  and 
8 


264  BY  IRRELTGION  THE  YOUNG  BASELY 

you  unkind  to  him  ?  Do  you  remember  a  fable, 
which  perhaps  you  may  have  read  in  your  child- 
hood? A  compassionate  countryman  found  a 
serpent,  chilled  with  frost;  he  pitied  it;  he  put 
it  in  his  bosom.  The  vital  warmth  restored  it  to 
life  and  activity;  but  what  was  its  first  action? 
It  would  fain  have  destroyed  its  benefactor. 
Apply  this  fable  to  the  present  subject.  Has 
not  God  done  more  for  you  than  words  can  ex- 
press? Are  not  you  indebted  to  him  for  life, 
breath,  being,  and  all  things  ?  Through  his  fos- 
tering care,  you  have  reached  the  vigour  and 
bloom  of  youth  ;  and  what  are  your  first  actions  ? 
Neglect  of  God  and  religion;  and  thus  base  in- 
gratitude and  sin.  O,  is  not  this  imitating  the 
serpent  ►*  It  is  true,  your  abused  benefactor  is 
beyond  the  reach  of  real  injury;  but  your  in- 
gratitude is  the  same,  as  if  he  could  receive  the 
greatest  injury  from  you.  You  deny  him  your 
favoured  youth.  The  time  in  which  you  are 
most  favoured  by  God,  the  blooming  season 
which  he  values  most,  that  very  time,  that  very 
bloom,  you  give  to  Satan,  the  world  and  sin,  O  ! 
.while  you  act  this  part,  little  as  you  may  suspect 
it,  the  venom  of  the  old  serpent  is  rankling  in 
your  heart. 

Perhaps  you  delude  yourself  by  imagining 
that  you  shall  present  him  the  latter  part  of  life ; 
but  does  not  his  goodness  claim  all  your  days? 
Besides,  what  can  the  aged  convert  oflfer  ? 
"  His  riches  ?  but  he  can  use  them  no  more :  his 
pleasures?  but  he  can  enjoy  them  no  longer: 
his  honour  ?  but  it  has  withered  on  his  brow : 
his  authority  ?  but  it  has  dropped  from  his 
feeble  hand.  He  leaves  his  sins,  when  they  will 
no  longer  bear  him  company.'* 


UNGRATEFUL  TO  GOD  AND  CHRIST.  255 

§  2.  In  neglecting  early  piety,  you  are  un- 
grateful to  the  Son  of  God.  He  humbled  him- 
self to  earth,  he  hungered  and  thirsted,  groan- 
ed and  wept,  endured  the  thorns,  the  scourge, 
the  cross,  and  even  bled  and  died  in  pity  to  your 
soul ;  and  he  demands  no  return,  but  what  is  for 
your  good  as  well  as  his  glory.  He  demands 
your  heart,  and  you  refuse  to  give  it.  Were  not 
they  basely  cruel  and  imgrateful  to  him,  who 
cried,  "Not  this  man  but  Barabbas ;"  who  thus 
preferred  a  murderer  to  the  Lord  of  life;  but 
you  act  as  guilty  a  part  while  you  prefer  the 
world,  that  delusive  destroyer,  to  a  dying  Savi- 
our, and  a  gracious  God  !  Rather  you  do  worse 
than  the  murderers  of  the  Lord  of  glory  did. 
Many  of  them  knew  not  what  they  did,  when 
they  preferred  the  murderer  Barabbas  to  the 
blessed  Jesus.  You  are  more  ungrateful  to 
Christ  than  they ;  while  you  profess  to  view  him 
as  the  Son  of  God,  and  Saviour  of  men,  and  yet, 
in  reality,  prefer  to  him,  not  Barabbas,  but  sin 
and  Satan.  Perhaps  you  say,  "  Surely  I  do  not 
act  this  horrid  part ;"  but  O !  deceive  not  your 
own  heart,  for  in  God's  esteem  you  do,  while  you 
refuse  to  yield  your  youth  to  Christ.  Though 
you  may  merely  neglect  his  grace,  yet  according 
to  the  Scriptures,  grace  neglected  is  grace  refused  ; 
and  though  you  may  be  merely  careless  of  the 
Lord  Jesus,  through  thoughtlessness  or  love  to 
the  world,  yet  it  is  most  certain,  that  a  Saviour 
slighted  is  a  Saviour  rejected;  and  O  dreadful ! 
rejected  for  what?  for  vanity,  folly,  and  plea- 
sure ;  or,  in  plainer  words,  for  the  service  of  the 
world,  and  the  devil.  And  O !  rejected  by  whom  ? 
by  one  to  whom  Christ  has  an  everlasting  right. 
He  has  such  a  right  to  you,  and  in  denying  your 


266  IRRELIGION,  INGRATITUDE  TO  GOD, 

heart  to  him  you  are  not  merely  guilty  of  the  most 
base  ingratitude,  but  of  the  vilest  inj  ustice.  You 
rob  him  of  his  right.  You  rob  not  man,  but  God  ; 
you  rob  God  of  his  honour,  and  the  divine  Sa- 
viour of  what  is  most  justly  his ;  God  said  of  old 
to  Israel,  "Will  a  man  rob  God?  yet  ye  have 
robbed  me."  The  language  of  his  word  is,  **  Ye 
are  not  your  own,  but  bought  with  a  price,  there- 
fore glorify  God  in  your  body,  and  in  your  spirit, 
which  are  God's."  What  would  you  think  of  a 
man,  that  might  rob  an  affectionate  parent,  to  give 
what  he  stole  from  his  best  friend,  to  a  most  de- 
testable and  cruel  enemy  of  that  parent  and  of 
himself  ?  Oh,  folly,  madness,  wickedness,  ingra- 
titude !  My  young  friend,  is  not  this  the  part 
you  act,  if  you  deny  Jesus  what  is  his  due  ?  and 
give  what  his  love  claifns  to  his  greatest  enemy 
and  yours  !  If  you  refuse  him  your  youth  and 
prime,  to  which  he  has  an  endless  right,  and  give 
that  youth  and  prime  to  Satan  ?  Love  so  ama- 
zing, so  divine  as  his,  demands  "  your  life,  your 
soul,  your  all ;"  and  shall  it  have  no  grateful  re- 
turn ?  When  you  owe  God  every  thing,  will  you 
be  so  base  as  to  give  him  nothing  ? 

§  3.  In  refusing  your  youth  to  God,  you  are 
guilty  of  the  greatest  cruelty  to  yourself  Better 
far  had  it  been  for  you  never  to  have  been  bom, 
than  to  come  into  the  world  to  spend  a  few  sin- 
ful years,  and  then  to  go  and  make  your  sad 
abode  with  devils  and  the  damned;  where  the 
worm  never  dieth,  and  the  fire  never  shall  be 
quenched.  You  would  think  any  one  dreadful- 
ly cruel  to  himself,  who  might  cut  and  mangle 
his  own  body,  who  might  tear  off  his  own  flesh, 
who  might  thrust  his  own  limbs  into  the  fire,  and 
keep  them  there,  in  misery  till  they  were  consum- 


AND  CRUELTY  TO  THE  SOUL,       257 

ed.  But  which  is  worst,  to  mangle  a  mortal  bo- 
dy, or  undo  an  immortal  soul?  to  thrust  a  limb 
into  the  fire,  or  to  throw  the  soul  into  hell  ?  If 
you  beheld  one,  that,  by  a  fall  from  his  horse,  or 
from  a  house-roof,  had  his  limbs  broken,  and  lay 
writhing  in  agony  on  the  ground,  would  you  not 
declare  him  cruel  to  himself,  if  a  friend  stood  by 
ready  and  able  to  cure  him,  and  ke  were  to  re- 
fuse the  needful  help?  But  which  is  worst,  to 
linger  down  to  death  in  agony,  through  slight- 
ing a  surgeon's  aid  ;  or  linger  a  iew  years,  a  de- 
praved, condemned,  and  ruined  creature,  and 
then  sink  to  endless  wretchedness,  through  neg- 
lecting a  divine  Saviour's  help?  If  your  body 
were  in  such  melancholy  circumstances,  you 
would  welcome  friendly  aid,  and  while  your  soul 
is  in  a  state  far  more  melancholy,  I  beseech 
you,  neglect  not  that  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
You  would  not  be  so  cruel  to  yourself,  as  to 
thrust  a  foot,  or  a  hand,  or  even  the  point  of  a 
finger  into  the  fire ;  O,  be  not  so  cruel  to  your 
own  soul,  as  to  undo  it  with  a  sure  and  everlast- 
ing destruction  I  Every  moment  that  you  delay  to 
turn  to  God,  is  a  moment  of  cruelty  to  your  soul, 
your  own,  your  immortal  soul.  What  would 
you  think  of  a  husbandman,  who,  in  spring, 
might  sow  his  fields  with  poisonous  weeds,  and 
say,  "  I'll  pluck  them  up  in  winter  V  Distract- 
ed man!  Where  would  be  his  harvest?  In 
winter,  he  should  be  enjoying  the  harvest,  of 
which  the  seed  was  sown  in  spring,  and  not  then, 
in  want  and  misery,  be  tearing  up  the  weeds  that 
had  ruined  his  land.  And  will  you,  by  neglect- 
ing early  piety,  sow  the  seeds  of  sin  in  youth, 
hoping  to  pluck  up  the  poisonous  weeds  in  age? 
Perhaps  that  age  may  never  come.    With  all 


258  MADNESS  OF  IRRELIGION. 

your  soul-destroying  sins  in  their  full  vigour, 
you  may  be  snatched  away  to  receive  the  judg- 
ment of  an  insulted  and  injured  God.  But  if 
that  age  should  come,  it  may  almost  be  a  hope- 
less task,  then  to  mortify  those  corruptions  which 
have  been  gaining  strength  through  all  the  years 
of  life;  and  which  have  brought  forth  much  fruit 
unto  eternal  death.  Cruel  as  the  distracted  hus- 
bandman would  be  to  himself,  more  cruel  will 
you  be,  if  you  spend  the  prime  of  life  in  storing 
up  causes  for  bitter  repentance  hereafter,  and 
thus  make  what  should  be  your  best  years,  your 
guiltiest  and  your  worst.  Alas !  how  dreadfully 
baneful  to  .your  best  interests,  is  carelessness 
and  irreligion  on  the  edge  of  an  eternal  world  ! 
A  drowning  man  will  catch  at  a  reed;  a  poor 
wretch  sinking  into  an  unfathomable  abyss  grasp 
a  twig;  but  all,  miserable  madness  of  unhappy 
men  !  though  about  to  plunge  into  vast  eternity, 
they  slight  that  helping  hand  which  offers  sure 
deliverance.  Still  they  go  on,  careless  whither, 
till  death,  that  forceful  preacher,  discovers  all  they 
would  not  learn,  but  which  they  must  by  sad  ex- 
perience know.  O  then  for  a  reed  of  hope !  then 
for  a  Saviour's  helping  hand  !  then  for  one  day 
of  offered  mercy  more !  Misers  would  give  their 
idolized  wealth,  monarchs  their  kingdoms,  world- 
lings their  pleasures,  for  such  a  blessing  once 
again.  Oh,  miserable  folly  !  to  set  no  value  now 
on  those  things,  for  which  they  would,  ere  long, 
think  the  wealth  of  worlds  a  trifling  price.  On 
this  side  the  grave,  to  let  eternal  salvation  be  al- 
most the  only  thing  they  neglect,  while  on  the 
other,  it  will  be  the  only  thing  that  is  worthy  of 
their  desire. 

§  4.  In  neglecting  early  piety,  you  are  un- 


EXPOSTULATION  WITH  THE  READER.    259 

kind  to  all  that  wish  you  well.  To  that  blessed 
Spirit,  who  strives  with  you ;  to  those  holy  an- 
gels, who  would  fain  rejoice  over  you  ;  to  those 
ministers  of  the  gospel,  that  labour  and  pray  for 
your  conversion ;  to  those  friends,  if  you  have 
such,  that  are  the  friends  of  Christ,  and  that  wish 
to  see  you  such  also.  How  much  comfort  you 
deny  them  !  What  pleasure  your  conversion 
might  give  them !  but  you  refuse  them  this  plea- 
sure. While  thus  basely  ungrateful  to  your  God, 
to  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  to  the  Holy  Spirit ; 
while  thus  cruel  to  yourself;  while  thus  un- 
kind to  angels,  to  ministers,  to  Christian  friends; 
whom,  O  young  sinner!  do  you  please?  Only 
those  malignant  spirits,  who  seek  your  ruin ;  on- 
ly the  devil  and  his  angels.  They  look  on  you 
as  their  own.  Only  hell  can  rejoice  over  you, 
while  the  church  of  Jesus  mourns;  and  while  if 
angels  could  weep,  they  would  weep  for  you. 
Oh  !  will  you  please  your  hellish  foes,  sooner  than 
your  compassionate  God  and  Saviour !  Oh  !  will 
you  do  that  at  Satan's  secret  bidding,  which  you 
will  not  do  at  Christ's  open  command !  Will 
you  comply  with  the  devil's  call,  and  yield  your 
youth  to  him,  while  you  neglect  the  call  of  God, 
and  return  him  nothing  but  neglect  and  sin? 
Oh,  could  you  see  that  hateful  foe,  would  you 
then  act  this  wicked  part  ?  yet,  if  you  will  not 
prepare  to  meet  your  God,  remember  you  will 
soon  be  given  up  by  him  into  the  hands  of  Sa- 
tan ;  then  you  will  find  that  you  were  infinitely 
cruel  to  yourself,  as  well  as  basely  ungrateful  to 
God,  while  pleasing  hell  instead  of  heaven. 

O,  my  young  friend,  would  you  lead  a  life  so 
basely  wicked  ?  Would  you  have  to  reproach 
yourself  hereafter  with  choosing  destruction,  in 


260  MOTIVES  FOR  EARLY  PIETY, 

spite  of  what  God  and  man  do  to  make  you  hap- 
py? Would  you  have,  at  last,  to  lament  that 
you  have  rushed  headlong  into  hell,  in  spite  of 
all  that  was  done  to  turn  your  feet  into  the  way 
of  heaven?  Prevent  such  sad  reflections  I  he- 
seech  you.  As  ever  you  would  find  mercy  at 
the  bar  of  God,  fly  to  the  God  of  mercy  now. 
Seek  Jesus  in  these  the  fair  days  of  your  youth. 
I  know  with  many  young  persons,  it  is  now  an 
easy  thing  to  slight  the  friendly  warning  that 
bids  them  follow  the  Saviour,  and  to  avoid,  or 
deride  the  friend  that  gives  it;  but  it  will  be 
dreadfully  hard  at  last,  to  remember  slighted 
warnings  —  abused  privileges  —  a  gracious  God 
forsaken  —  a  kind  Saviour  neglected  — a  wasted 
youth  —  a  heaven  lost  —  a  hell  incurred — and 
a  devil  pleased  instead  of  God.  One  way  only 
remains  for  you  to  escape  all  these  evils,  it  is, 
to  go  to  Christ  for  life.  May  God  lead  you  to 
him. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

THE  VANITY  OF  YOUTH,  AND  THE  UNCERTAINTY  OF 
LIFE,  REASONS  FOR  THE  IMMEDIATE  CHOICE  OF 
EARLY  PIETY. 

§  1.  A  DIVINE  writer,  when  urging  on  the 
young  attention  to  eternal  things,  employs  this 
solemn  argument:  "Childhood  and  youth  are 
vanity:"  Eccles.  xi.  10.  And  is  it  not  so? 
"  Perhaps  even  now,  while  you  hesitate,  you  die. 
Perhaps  the  shuttle  has  passed  the  loom,  that 
vove  your  winding  sheet.    Perhaps  in  yonder 


FROM  THE  VANITY  OF  YOUTH.  201 

shop,  lies  rolled  up,  and  ready  to  be  severed  off, 
that  piece  of  cloth,  destined  to  be  your  shroud.'* 
The  admonition  of  the  Lord  is,  '-  Boast  not  thy- 
self of  to-morrow ;  for  thou  knowest  not  what 
a  day  may  bring  forth  :"  Prov.  xxvii.  1 .  What 
is  there  so  firm  in  youth,  in  health,  or  strength, 
that  on  their  continuance,  you  should  venture  the 
salvation  of  an  immortal  soul  ?  On  no  morning 
of  the  year  can  you  positively  say,  that  you  shall 
see  the  evening ;  on  no  evening  can  you  be  cer- 
tain of  beholding  the  approaching  morning. 
They  who  promise  fair  for  most  years  in  this 
world,  may  be  the  very  first  to  enter  the  next. 
Possibly  even  by  to-morrow,  you  may  have  for- 
saken this  world  for  ever. 

§  2.  Consider  what  others  were  a  few  seasons 
ago,  that  are  now  fixed  in  the  eternal  world. 
They  were  as  young,  and  perhaps,  alas!  as 
thoughtless  and  as  gay  as  you.  AYhen  you  pass 
through  a  burying  ground,  look  at  its  graves; 
read  the  inscriptions  there  ;  and  see  how  many, 
in  the  bloom  of  life,  have  been  cut  off  and  called 
to  meet  their  God.  There  lie  the  young,  the 
healthy,  and  the  strong.  There  lie  many  whom 
the  world  once  charmed,  and  who  for  it  slighted 
their  immortal  souls.  And  w^hat  is  the  world  to 
them  now !  Perhaps  before  twelve  months  more 
depart,  your  now  youthful  and  healthful  body 
may  be  like  theirs;  your  active  limbs  may  be 
mouldering  into  dust ;  *  your  eyes  closed  upon 
the  world ;  and  all  its  pleasures,  will  neither 
pain  nor  please  you  in  the  grave.  AVhere  are 
they  now,  and  where  must  you  shortly  be  ?  They 
a  few  years  back,  were  as  gay  as  you  can  be,  but 
O I  all  earthly  things  are  for  ever  past  with  them. 
You  are  young  now,  so  were  they  then;   but 


262  THE  VANITY  OF  YOUTH  EVINCED 

youth  and  vigour  have  forsaken  Ihem.  You  are 
healthy  now,  so  then  were  they ;  though  since 
numbered  with  the  dead.  The  world  then  seem- 
ed as  enchanting  to  them,  as  it  can  do  to  you ; 
they  were  as  much  set  upon  its  dying  pleasures, 
but,  they  are  gone;  and  O,  what  is  it  to  their 
poor  breathless  dust !  What  will  it  soon  be  to 
yours!  They  are  mouldered  back  to  dust. 
Their  very  coffins  are  decayed.  Their  gaiety  is 
over.  Their  joys  are  past.  They  are  gone  into 
the  world  of  spirits.  They  have  met  their  God. 
O,  what  new  scenes  have  opened  upon  them ! 
With  what  terror  have  they,  who  refused  God's 
grace  in  this  world,  been  dragged  by  hellish 
fiends,  to  everlasting  burnings  !  Could  some  of 
these  unhappy  creatures  now  address  you,  did 
not  the  malignity  of  their  nature  prevent  them, 
they  might  say,  "  Avoid  our  folly.  Shun  our 
misery.  Sin  and  the  world  have  undone  us ; 
heart-rending  thought ;  undone  us  for  ever.  A 
little  while  back,  pleasure,  health,  and  youth, 
were  ours  !  Then  we  were  as  eager  in  the  pur- 
suit of  fancied  happiness,  as  you  can  possibly 
be.  The  world  appeared  drest  in  as  gay  colours 
to  us,  as  it  now  does  to  you.  W^e  trusted  in  our 
youth,  and  looked  on  future  years  as  our  own, 
which,  alas  !  we  never  lived  to  see.  Vanity  and 
pride  filled  our  hearts ;  pleasure  was  our  idol ; 
and  the  world  our  delight.  Alas!  we  lived  as 
if  it  were  our  home,  and  forgot  that  we  were  but 
travellers  through  it,  to  eternal  scenes.  We 
quenched  the  warnings  of  conscience ;  we  scoiti- 
ed  the  admonitions  of  pious  friends;  and 
thought  those  strangely  impertinent,  that  re- 
minded us  of  death  and  the  grave,  though,  alas  ! 
we  were  so  near  to  both.     We  deemed  religion 


BY  THE  DEATH  AND  RUIN  OF  MANY.    263 

a  melancholy  thing ;  and  scorned  those  blessings, 
for  which  we  should  now  think  a  thousand 
worlds  a  little  price.  We  ridiculed  the  folly  of 
professing  to  be  strangers  and  pilgrims  upon 
earth  ;  and  looked  down  with  contemptuous  pi- 
ty on  those,  whose  chief  concern  on  earth,  was 
safely  to  reach  heaven.  We  thought  our  folly 
wisdom,  and  their  true  wisdom  folly.  We  heard 
the  tolling  bell,  but  forgot  that  it  would  soon  toll 
for  us.  We  saw  the  opened  grave,  unmindful 
that  that  land  of  silence  would  cjuickly  be  our 
long  home.  Trifling  as  you,  we  stopped  not  to 
consider  what  we  were,  and  what  we  soon  must 
be.  But  youth  failed  us,  death  arrived,  and  the 
lying  vanities  of  life  fled  at  its  touch.  Then  we 
discovered  our  misery.  Then  we  saw  our  want ; 
but.  Oh  I  too  late.  Woe  is  us!  Our  day  of 
grace  is  gone.  The  tidings  of  mercy  are  now 
unheard  by  us.  The  blood  of  Jesus  can  never 
cleanse  us ;  nor  the  compassion  of  God  reach  us 
now.  For  the  vain  pleasures  of  a  moment,  we 
have  ruined  a  whole  eternity." 

§  3.  O  my  young  friend !  would  the  tale  of 
horror,  that  such  unhappy  creatures,  if  permitted, 
could  relate,  make  you  feel  how  vain  is  youth  ? 
remember,  I  beseech  you,  that  it  is  as  vain,  as 
if  you  could  hear  their  doleful  lamentations. 
Millions  of  the  young  die  every  year.  More 
than  half  mankind  die  before  they  have  reached 
their  twentieth  year ;  and  what  is  there  in  you, 
to  shield  you  from  so  common  a  lot?  are  you 
stronger,  or  healthier,  or  more  sure  of  life,  than 
others  ?    Perhaps, 

"  The  young  disease,  that  must  subdue  at  length. 
Has  '  Grown  with  your  growth,  and  strengthen'd  with  your 
streugth.' " 


264  LIFE  UNCERTAIN   TO  THE  YOUNG. 

Or  how  easily  may  a  fever  seize  upon  you,  and 
in  a  few  days  reduce  you  from  the  highest  health, 
to  feebleness  and  death  !  How  quickly  may  any 
sudden  change  from  heat  to  cold,  or  many  other 
causes,  inflame  your  lungs,  or  some  other  vital 
part,  and  in  a  few  days,  lodge  you  —  where  ?  In 
the  eternal  world.  How  soon  may  a  cold  turn 
to  a  consumption,  and  before  you  think  yourself 
seriously  ill,  you  may  be  incurably  so !  How  soon 
may  numerous  other  diseases,  at  God's  bidding, 
accomplish  their  awful  errand!  You  perhaps 
now  look  forward  to  future  years,  which  probably 
will  never  be  yours ;  but  if  they  should  now  soon 
the  years  now  to  come,  will  be  years  departed ! 
Others  ere  long  will  tread  upon  your  grave,  as 
thoughtlessly  as  you  do  on  theirs,  who  went  be- 
fore you.  You  live  in  a  dying  world,  in  a  land 
of  graves.  On  some  spot  of  earth  or  other,  fresh 
graves  are  ever  opening.  No  minute  passes  in 
which  some  do  not  die.  While  you  breathe 
some  breathe  their  last.  While  you  think  of  eter. 
nity,  others  as  young  as  you,  are  passing  thither, 
enraptured  or  dismayed.  Ah,  hapless  state  of 
an  unhappy  world  !  Some  dying  in  youth,  and 
others  fooling  their  precious  youth  away.  Some 
going  to  give  up  their  sad  account,  and  others 
swelling  the  black  list  on  theirs.  Some  neglect- 
ing early  piety,  and  others,  too  late,  mourning 
their  folly  in  doing  so.  Some  trifling  with  a 
Saviour,  and  others  trembling  before  him  as  their 
Judge.  How  soon,  if  you  belong  to  the  former 
of  these  classes,  will  time  number  you  with  the 
latter!  You  are  on  the  verge  of  eternity,  and 
some  younger  than  you  are  daily  dying,  and  en- 
tering on  its  amazing  scenes.  O,  remember  that 
youth  is  vanity,  and  life  itself  no  better.    And 


REFLECTIONS  ON  ITS  UNCERTAINTY.         265 

should  you  continue  careless  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  how  bitter  ere  long  wiU  be  the  remem- 
brance of  your  wasted  youth  !  This  one  short 
and  vain  life  is  the  only  season,  in  which  you 
may  obtain  peace  with  God,  and  receive  the  gift 
of  life  eternal ;  and  would  you  still  throw  this 
one  away  ?  Alas,  unhappy  youth !  who  are  so 
truly  wretched  as  they,  who  do  this,  excepting 
they  who  have  done  it!  Would  the  starving 
beggar  that  has  but  one  penny,  toss  that  away ! 
or  the  sailor  that  has  but  one  way  of  escaping 
shipwreck,  neglect  that  one !  or  the  traveller  who 
sees  but  one  path  from  a  tremendous  precipice, 
slight  that  one  I  and  will  you  waste  in  sinful  de- 
lays, the  flower  and  prime  of  that  one  vain  life, 
in  which  eternal  life  may  be  sought  in  Christ 
and  surely  found?  O!  rather  unite  in  the 
Psalmist's  prayer,  "  So  teach  us  to  number  our 
days  that  we  may  apply  our  hearts  unto  wisdom." 

§  4.  Often  indulge  such  reflections  as  these  on 
the  passing  scenes  around  you. 

That  sun  is  setting,  and  has  once  less  to  set  on 
me ;  in  time  I  may  soon  behold  its  rise,  but  en- 
ter eternity  before  it  set.  This  year  is  closing, 
and  will  never  more  close  on  me ;  it  is  finished ; 
and  has  brought  me  so  much  nearer  to  the  hour 
when  time  itself  shall  end  with  me. 

Do  I  see  a  leaf  in  summer  torn  from  the  bough, 
on  which  it  grew?  such  is  my  life.  We  all  do 
fade  as  a  leaf.  Like  the  leaf,  when  age  the  win- 
ter of  time  comes  on,  it  must  fade ;  but  as  a  sum- 
mer storm  may  tear  the  leaf  from  the  tree,  and 
cast  it  to  the  ground,  so  disease  may  attack  my 
health,  and  lay  my  body  among  the  clods  of  the 
valley,  and  send  my  spirit  to  God  who  gave  it. 
O,  may  I  flourish  in  faith  and  love,  that  thus 


^6       REFLECTIONS  ON  LIFE'S  UNCERTAINTY 

being  found  waiting,  I  may  welcome  the  coming 
of  my  liord,  though  at  the  most  unexpected  hour. 

Am  I  taking  a  journey,  in  a  carriage  going 
rapidly  along  ?  the  trees,  the  hedges,  the  fields, 
the  houses,  seem  all  hastily  passing  by  me ;  and 
would  lead  me  to  think,  that  I  am  sitting  still  to 
observe  them  glide  away.  But,  ah  !  it  is  I  who 
move,  and  they  are  still  1  Thus  fast  am  I  has- 
tening to  the  end  of  my  little  journey  of  life, 
though  I  mark  not  its  progress,  or  be  thought- 
less of  its  close. 

Do  I  observe  a  sportsman  aiming  at  a  flying 
bird  ?  it  has  left  no  trace  behind,  and  probably 
his  shot  may  bring  it  to  the  ground,  and  prevent 
its  passing  through  the  expanse  before.  My  past 
years  are  gone  as  the  years  before  the  flood  ;  and 
the  years  that  are  before  me  I  may  never  enter. 
Death,  that  surest  of  marksmen,  may  have  al- 
ready received  his  dread  commission,  to  number 
me  with  the  dead.  O,  may  faith  and  love  pre- 
pare me  for  eternity  before  I  feel  the  awful  stroke 
of  death !  Seek  then,  my  soul ;  O,  seek  with- 
out delay,  these  precious  blessings!  My  stay 
here  is  all  uncertain.  My  youth  is  vanity.  My 
days  are  swifter  than  a  shuttle ;  but  what  will  be- 
come of  thee,  if  these  fleeting  days  should  end, 
and  thou  shouldst  then  be  found  in  thy  present 
state  ?  O,  let  me  seek  in  Christ  deliverance  from 
my  sins .  Then  grace  shall  make  even  the  vani- 
ty of  youth  a  blessing  rather  than  an  evil. 

*'Be  wise,  my  soul,  be  timely  wise. 
Flee  to  the  atoning  sacrifice  ; 
The  gospel  promises  embrace, 
And  trust  thy  all  to  Jesus'  grace." 


267 
CHAPTER  XYII. 

THE  SORROWS  AND  DANGERS  THAT  ATTEND  THE 
WAY  OF  TRANSGRESSORS,  A  REASON  FOR  THE 
CHOICE  OF  EARLY  RELIGION. 

§  1.  While  the  various  blessings,  wliich 
attend  a  knowledge  of  the  gospel,  combine  to 
form  a  motive  for  embracing  early  piety,  mo- 
tives of  an  opposite  but  most  weighty  kind,  arise 
from  the  disappointments  and  the  miseries,  that 
attend  the  path  of  transgressors.  "The  way  of 
transgressors  is  hai'd."  "  There  is  no  peace  to  the 
wicked ;"  God  to  them  ''  distdbuteth  sorrows  in 
his  anger." 

Were  we  unacquainted  with  any  actual  mise- 
ries attendant  on  irreligion,  yet  there  would  be 
enough  in  the  divine  word,  to  convince  you  that 
it  is  ruinous  and  destructive.  Depravity  and 
corruption  have  led  you  into  the  ways  of  sin ; 
and  it  is  blindness  that  keeps  you  contented  there. 
"  The  understanding  of  men  is  darkened,  being 
alienated  from  the  life  of  God,  through  the  igno- 
rance that  is  in  them,  because  of  the  blindness  of 
their  heart."  "The  natural  man  receiveth  not 
the  things  of  the  spirit  of  God,  for  they  are  fool- 
ishness unto  him."  "  The  god  of  this  world,"  (or 
Satan,)  "hath  blinded  the  minds  of  them  which 
believe  not,  lest  the  light  of  the  glorious  gospel 
of  Christ,  who  is  the  image  of  God,  should  shine 
into  them."  While  in  this  state,  you  resemble 
a  blind  man  in  the  midst  of  treacherous  enemies; 
he  does  not  see  them,  and  so  he  does  not  fear 
them.  Thus,  on  the  edge  of  destruction,  you 
are  unconcerned,  because  blind  to  your  state; 

ProT.  xiii.  15.     Is.  Ivii.  21.     Job,  xxi.  17.     Eph.  iv.  13.    1  Cor.  ii  14. 
2  Cor.  iv.  4, 


2<)S  SINFUL  PLEASURES  UNSATISFYING. 

for  did  you  see  your  real  stale,  while  uninterest- 
ed in  the  Saviour,  you  might  perceive  yourself  to 
be,  as  it  were,  hanging  by  a  single  thread  over 
the  mouth  of  hell ;  devils  waiting  to  receive  you; 
the  eternal  Judge  frowning  upon  you ;  and  no- 
thing wanting  to  seal  you  up  under  endless  des- 
pair, but  the  command  of  God  to  snap  the  brit- 
tle thread  of  life  asunder.  You  are  blinded  by 
Satan,  and  led  captive  at  his  will.  Is  not  this  a 
state  of  wretchedness  ?  yet  this  is  yours ;  though 
spiritual  blindness  prevents  your  perception  of  it. 
§  2.  But  perhaps  though  such  is  your  truly 
dismal  condition,  you  have  not  felt  its  dan- 
ger, nor  been  alarmed  at  its  horrors.  You  have 
thought,  and  still  think,  the  ways  of  iniquity 
pleasing.  Yes,  unhappy  youth,  in  the  flush  of 
health,  in  the  moment  of  unbridled  passion, 
while  the  future  is  forgotten,  and  death  and 
judgment  out  of  sight,  the  young  sinner  may 
find  in  them  a  transitory  though  brutish  plea- 
sure. The  profligate,  the  drunken,  and  the  lewd 
may  be  gratified  for  a  few  moments  with  their 
base  delights.  The  civiler  and  more  moralized, 
in  the  giddy  ball  room,  or  licentious  theatre,  or 
when  wasting  invaluable  time  over  a  novel  or 
romance,  may  think  themselves  happy ;  but, 
*'  Short  is  the  course  of  everj'  lawless  pleasure. 
Grief,  like  a  shade,  on  all  its  footsteps  waits  j 
Scarce  visible  in  joy's  meridian  height. 
But  downwards  as  the  blaze  declining  spreads. 
The  dwarfish  shadow  to  a  giant  grows." 
Though  sometimes  the  ways  of  irreligion  may 
yield  a  short  though  guilty  pleasure,  yet  often 
worldly  delights  are  bitterness,  in  the  pursuit  as 
well  as  in  the  end.  They  are  unsatisfying.  The 
sinner  pursues  them  for  happiness !  and  yet  is 
not  happy.     The  lover  of  pleasure  follows  his 


WORLDLY  PLEASURES  HAVE  A  STING.        269 

pleasures,  yet  finds  little  or  no  pleasure  in  them. 
Have  you  never  known  this  ?  Have  you  never 
by  a  smiling  countenance,  tried  to  hide  the  un- 
easiness of  your  heart  ?  Have  you  never  seem- 
ed happy,  in  the  view  of  others,  when  full  of  in- 
ward misery?  In  the  vain  round  of  amuse- 
ments, conscience,  like  a  still  small  voice  with- 
in, often  tells  the  sinner,  that  the  end  of  these 
things  is  death.  Conscience,  with  an  unwelcome 
voice,  sometimes  warns  the  deluded  followers 
of  the  world,  that  while  the  one  thing  needful  is 
neglected,  they  are  poor  in  the  midst  of  riches, 
and  on  the  verge  of  eternal  misery,  even  in  the 
midst  of  worldly  pleasure.  Has  not  this  sacred 
monitor  thus  at  times  followed  you,  and  made 
you  uneasy  even  in  spite  of  yourself?  Has  it 
not  even  at  the  playhouse,  the  card  table,  or  the 
dance,  told  you  that  death,  judgment,  and  hell, 
were  at  hand  ?  The  careless  sinner,  who  seems 
so  cheerful,  who  laughs  so  loud,  who  appears  so 
merry,  through  these  inward  stings,  often  feels, 
in  the  midst  of  all  his  delight,  a  load  of  remorse 
and  w^-etchedness.  The  anecdote  of  Colonel 
Gardiner,  mentioned  Page  204,  is  a  well  known 
illustration  of  this  remark. 

A  young  friend  of  the  writer,  w-ho  had  long  tri- 
fled with  religion,  thus  to  a  near  relative  express- 
ed her  feelings:  "The  wicked  are  like  a  troubled 
sea,  they  cannot  rest ;  and  do  I  not  daily  experi- 
ence the  truth  of  this  assertion  ?  If  my  present 
course  yielded  me  any  real  pleasure,  then  my 
folly  might  be  in  some  measure  excusable,  but  it 
yields  none  ;  for  the  threatenings  of  God's  word, 
the  affectionate  warnings  of  my  parents,  and  the 
stings  of  my  own  conscience,  continually  conspire 
to  blunt  the  edge  of  worldly  enjoyment,  and  leave 


270  SIN  RUINOUS  —  PRODIGALITY. 

me  indeed  a  miserable  creature.  Reflection  I 
cannot  bear.  Oh,  no  I  for  then  indeed  I  feel 
the  agonies  of  a  guilty  and  accusing  conscience. 
I  know,  I  feel  that  I  shall  never  have  a  peaceful 
mind,  never  taste  real  bliss,  till  I  from  the  heart 
give  up  the  world,  till  I  from  the  heart  embrace 
real  religion.  I  have  drunk  of  the  cup  of  worldly 
pleasure,  and  for  its  amusements  slighted  my  Sa- 
viour and  neglected  my  own  soul.  And  what 
have  I  gained?  Nothing — but  I  have  drawn 
sighs  from  the  hearts,  and  tears  from  the  eyes,  of 
those  whom  it  ought  to  be  my  study  to  render 
happy  ;  offended  God  ;  done  despite  to  the  Spi- 
rit of  his  grace ;  trampled  on  the  blood  of  the  Sa- 
viour ;  and  undone  my  soul !  —  And  with  a  con- 
sciousness of  this,  can  I  ever  be  happy  ?  No  — 
I  know  by  experience  that  the  way  of  transgres- 
sors is  hard."  My  youthful  reader,  have  not  you 
felt  something  of  what  is  here  described  ?  Per- 
haps you  have  felt  it  all. 

Were  no  more  wretchedness  than  this  to  at- 
tend the  way  of  transgressors,  if  you  have  any 
pity  on  your  own  soul,  your  language  should  be, 
"  Let  me  devote  myself  to  God,  and  seek  in  him 
those  true  delights,  which  the  ungodly  never 
knew !"  But  what  has  been  mentioned  forms 
only  a  small  part  of  the  sorrows,  attendant  on 
a  life  of  sin.  Not  merely  does  sin  biing  de- 
struction in  the  next  world,  but  its  frequent 
fruits  are  wretchedness  and  ruin  in  this. 

Behold  the  prodigal :  (Luke,  15.)  He  thinks 
himself  happy.  In  jollity  and  merriment  he 
squanders  his  possessions  away;  but  see  him 
soon,  he  is  sunk  in  the  lowest  depths  of  wretch- 
edness. Where  are  his  pleasures  ?  his  compan- 
ions ?    his  gay-spent  days  and  festive  nights  ? 


SABBATH-BREAKING.  271 

They  are  gone.  He  feeds  the  swine,  and  longs 
to  satisfy  his  hung-er,  even  with  the  husks  on 
which  they  live.  How  many  have  been  reduced 
to  misery  as  great  as  this,  who  but  for  a  youth  of 
sins,  might  have  passed  through  life  in  comfort ! 
Sabbath-breaking  has  been  mentioned  as  one 
of  the  most  common  sins  of  youth,  and  how  sad 
are  its  fruits !  It  often  takes  the  lead  in  a  legion 
of  crimes.  The  sabbath-breaker  is  not  long 
merely  a  sabbath-breaker.  The  writer  of  these 
pages  once  attended  a  criminal,  who  suffered 
death  for  murder,  and  he  spoke  of  sabbath-break- 
ing as  a  sin  that  led  him  to  others  !  perhaps  few 
criminals  have  reached  the  gallows,  who  had  not 
to  ascribe  their  destruction  in  a  great  measure  to 
this  crime.  Many  have  expressly  mentioned 
this  as  the  source  of  their  guilt  and  misery.  In 
1816  five  men  suffered  on  the  gallows,  at  the 
same  time,  in  the  Isle  of  Ely,  one  or  two  of 
whom  had  been  in  a  decent  situation,  and  who 
all  bore  this  sad  testimony  to  the  effects  of  sab- 
bath-breaking. "We  most  sincerely  warn  you  all 
to  avoid  those  sins,  which  have  been  the  means  of 
bringing  us  here.  By  all  means  avoid  irreligion 
and  vice  of  all  kinds;  particularly  swearing, 
drunkenness,  and  sabbath-breaking/'  One  of 
them  declared  that  drunkenness,  whoredom,  and 
sabbath-breaking,  had  brought  them  all  to  their 
untimely  end.  The  awful  judgments  of  God 
on  sabbath-breakers,  have  also  proved  their  way 
a  way  of  sorrows.  Many  have  gone  out  in  the 
morning,  on  sabbath-breaking  parties  of  plea- 
sure, who,  ere  the  evening  came,  were  cut  off  by 
a  sudden  and  unexpected  doom ;  and  sent  all 
unprepared  into  the  eternal  world.  Not  long 
back  two  parties  containing  eleven  or  twelve  per- 


272  SIN  RUINOUS  —  DRUNKENNESS. 

sons  perished  during-  one  sabbath-day,  in  the  ri- 
ver Thames.  Could  some  of  these  unhappy- 
creatures  now  address  you,  they  might  say,  "For- 
sake your  destructive  pleasures ;  cease  your  sab- 
bath-breaking parties,  lest  our  doom  be  shortly 
yours.  Alas  !  our  broken  sabbaths,  are  our  mise- 
ry now.  Had  we  improved  them,  how  different 
had  our  state  now  been.  Learn  wisdom  from 
our  folly.  Your  sabbaths  are  not  all  gone,  but 
ours  are,  and  we  would  give  the  world  to  have 
spent  them  in  the  ways  of  God.  Alas  I  we  pro- 
faned them ;  and  God  was  angry  with  us,  and 
snatched  us  from  the  world  where  mercy  may  be 
found,  and  fixed  us  in  that  sad  abode,  where  no 
sabbath  ever  shines." 

Drunkenness  leads  to  temporal  and  eternal 
destruction ;  it  entails  disease  on  the  body :  beg- 
gary on  the  estate;  and  damnation  on  the  soul. 
"  Who  hath  woe?  who  hath  sorrow  ?  who  hath 
contentions  ?  who  hath  wounds  without  cause  ? 
who  hath  redness  of  eyes  ?  They  that  tarry  long 
at  the  wine.  Look  not  thou  upon  the  wine  when 
it  is  red,  when  it  giveth  its  colour  in  the  cup. 
At  the  last  it  biteth  like  a  serpent,  and  stingeth 
like  an  adder.  Woe  unto  them  that  rise  up  early 
in  the  morning,  that  they  may  follow  strong 
drink ;  that  continue  until  night,  till  wine  in- 
flame them  !  Woe  unto  them  that  are  mighty 
to  drink  wine,  and  men  of  strength  to  mingle 
strong  drink !  Drunkards  shall  not  inherit  the 
kingdom  of  God." 

The  guilty  indulgence  of  loose  and  wanton  de- 
sires, though  so  awfully  prevalent,  entails  on 
multitudes  of  young  transgressors,  years  of  mi- 
sery and  early  death.     "  There  is  a  chaste  afiec- 

Prov.  xxiij.  29  —  32.  Isa.v.  11,  &o.  1  Cor.  vi.  10. 


WANTONNESS,  &C.  273 

tion,  which  fixing  on  a  single  object,  and  opera- 
ting under  the  guidance  of  discretion,  produces 
the  most  generous  sentiments  in  the  heart,  and 
the  most  tender  endearments  in  domestic  life. 
Such  a  passion,  by  forming  an  attachment  at 
once  the  most  faithful,  delicate,  and  lasting,  has 
often  a  happy  influence  over  the  whole  course  of 
our  following  years.  But  lust  is  an  unhallowed 
fire,  which  burns  only  to  destroy  health,  honour, 
and  peace."*  "For  the  lips  of  a  strange  woman 
drop  as  an  honeycomb,  and  her  mouth  is  smooth- 
er than  oil :  But  her  end  is  bitter  as  wormwood, 
sharp  as  a  two-edged  sword.  Her  feet  go  down 
to  death  ;  her  steps  take  hold  on  hell.  I  beheld 
among  the  simple  ones,  a  young  man  void  of  un- 
derstandings and  he  went  the  way  to  her  house ; 
in  the  twilight,  in  the  evening,  in  the  black  and 
dark  night :  And,  behold  there  met  him  a  wo- 
man, with  the  attire  of  an  harlot,  and  subtle  of 
heart.  With  much  fair  speech  she  caused  him 
to  yield.  But  he  knoweth  not  that  the  dead  are 
there;  and  that  her  guests  are  in  the  depths  of 
hell.  He  goeth  after  her  straightway,  as  a  bird 
hasteth  to  the  snare,  and  knoweth  not  that  it  is 
for  his  life.  Remove  thy  way  from  her,  and  come 
not  nigh  the  door  of  her  house ;  lest  thou  give 
thine  honour  unto  others,  and  thy  years  unto  the 
cruel:  And  thou  mourn  at  the  last,  when  thy 
flesh  and  thy  body  are  consumed.  Let  not  thine 
heart  decline  to  her  ways,  go  not  astray  in  her 
paths ;  For  many  strong  men  have  been  slain  by 
her.  Her  house  is  the  way  to  hell."  Picture  to 
yourself  a  young  man,  the  slave  of  this  destruc- 
tive sin.  He  might  have  enjoyed  health  and  vi- 
gour ;  have  been  a  comfort  to  others,  and  a  bless- 

•  Thornton.    Prov.  t.  3.    vii.  7.    ix.  18.    Tii.22.    v.  8,  &c. 


274  MISERIES  OF  THE  WAY 

ing  to  himself:  but  his  crimes  have  ruined  his 
health ;  disease  sends  him  to  an  early  tomb ; 
and  his  murdered  soul  goes  hence,  laden Vith  the 
guilt  of  that  crime,  of  which  the  Most  High  has 
solemnly  said,  "  They  that  do  such  things  shall 
not  inherit  the  kingdom  of  God.  For  this  ye 
know,  that  no  whoremonger,  nor  unclean  person, 
nor  covetous  man,  who  is  an  idolator,  hath  any 
inheritance  in  the  kingdom  of  Christ  and  of  God. 
Let  no  man  deceive  you  with  vain  words :  for  be- 
cause of  these  things  cometh  the  wrath  of  God 
upon  the  children  of  disobedience." 

Does  a  young  woman  give  way  to  the  sedu- 
cer, alas  !  she  finds  the  way  of  transgressors  hard 
indeed.  Reproaches  of  conscience,  loss  of  char- 
acter, with  the  other  bitter  fruits  of  this  crime, 
become  her  sad  portion.  Perhaps  she  goes  on- 
ward in  sin,  and  ends  in  prostitution ;  then  has 
she  peace  ?  Ah  no  !  she  has  become  in  reality,  the 
off-scouring  of  all  things.  How  different  is  such 
a  one  from  what  she  might  have  been  !  and  from 
what  others  are,  who  have  made  God  the  guide 
of  their  youth.  They  the  ornaments  and  com- 
forts of  tlie  families  to  which  they  belong ;  but 
she,  ah  !  what  is  she?  "An  abandoned  prosti- 
tute !  lost  to  all  sense  of  shame,  and  to  every 
right  feeling !  she  lives  only  to  propogate  dis- 
ease, and  wickedness,  and  misery,  and  death, 
and  damnation,  to  all  who  come  within  the 
reach  of  her  pestilential  breath  !  She  becomes 
one  of  the  grand  agents  of  hell,  in  the  accomp- 
lishment of  these  infernal  works.''*  How  deep 
is  now  her  wretchedness  !  A  minister*  who  was 
called  by  his  situation  to  address  some  hundreds 
of  these  poor  creatures  in  a  year,  for  several  years 

Epbes.  V.  5.        *  Scott's  Sermon  on  Licentiousness,  p.  21,  22. 


OF  TRANSGRESSORS.  275 

together,  made  this  statement.  "Let  them  be 
hardened  and  callous  to  what  other  subject  they 
may,  there  is  one  on  which  they  all  feel,  and  feel 
acutely.  Speak  to  them  of  the  extreme  misery 
io  ivhich  they  have  reduced  themselves,  and  you 
touch  a  string  which  vibrates  from  heart  to  heart 
through  the  whole  company :  they  are  all  melt- 
ed into  tears." 

Connected  with  these  crimes,  dishonesty  oft- 
en takes  its  dreadful  place.  Parents  are  robbed 
by  ungodly  children.  Masters  are  plundered  by 
those  they  employ.  But  bitter  are  the  fruits  of 
this  disgraceful  sin !  bitter  for  time,  as  well  as 
eternity.  Fear  of  detection,  distrust,  discredit, 
and  in  the  end,  the  prison,  transportation,  or  the 
gallows,  are  the  frequent  termination  of  those 
dishonest  courses,  to  which  profligacy  and  lewd- 
ness lead. 

O,  could  those  who  have  tried  to  the  utmost, 
what  delights  transgression  yields,  address  you, 
they  would  assure  you,  that  the  ways  of  irreli- 
gion  are  full  of  sorrows.  Behold  in  your  imag- 
ination, the  sabbath-breaker,  that  went  out  on  a 
party  of  pleasure,  brought  home,  as  hundreds 
have  been,  a  ghastly  corpse.  See  the  drunken 
and  the  lewd,  wallowing  for  a  few  short  years,  in 
the  mire  of  sensuality ;  then  view  them  putrefy- 
ing with  disease  ;  then  see  the  close  of  all ;  view 
them  expiring,  filled  with  consternation  and  hor- 
ror, perhaps  blaspheming  God  and  dying :  dy- 
ing miserably  as  that  wretched  atheist,  who, 
when  told  that  nothing  could  be  done  for  him, 
and  that  he  must  die !  clenched  his  fists,  gnashed 
his  teeth,  and  said  with  the  utmost  fury,  "  God, 
God,  I  won't  die  I"  and  immediately  expired. 
See  this,  and  then  say,  Are  these  the  ways  of 


276  DECEITPULNESS  OF  SIN. 

pleasantness  ?  Is  this  the  path  of  peace  ?  Not 
not  unless  damnation  is  pleasant,  and  hell  the 
abode  of  peace.  All  who  have  tried  the  paths  of 
sin  have  found  them  hard.  Even  devils  could 
assure  you  of  this.  When  was  it  that  they  knew 
happiness  ?     It  was  before  they  sinned. 

§  4.  Neglect  of  religion  is  an  inexpressibly 
dangerous  evil.  Perhaps  you  look  with  horror 
on  some  of  the  sins  already  mentioned,  yet  you 
cannot,  while  you  live  without  God,  say.  Thus 
far  will  I  go  in  sin,  and  no  further.  You  can- 
not, when  you  please,  calm  the  tempest  of  unru- 
ly passions,  by  saying.  Peace,  be  still.  Few  are 
hardened  in  iniquity,  and  sealed  for  perdition  at 
once.  The  way  of  sin  is  a  progressive  way.  Lit- 
tle did  Hazael  think,  when  he  conversed  with  Eli- 
sha,  that  he  should  afterwards  murder  his  mas- 
ter, and  become  the  monster  he  became.  Little 
did  David,  when  he  first  turned  his  eyes  on  Bath- 
sheba,  suppose  that  he  should  soon  plunge  deep 
in  base  adultery,  and  atrocious  murder.  Little 
did  Peter  think,  when  he  first  denied  his  Lord, 
that  to  that  falsehood,  perjury  and  profaneness 
would  so  quickly  be  added.  Little  did  the  youth, 
who  dies  the  victim  of  youthful  lusts,  imagine, 
that  the  first  wanton  thought  he  indulged,  was 
the  forerunner  of  all  his  guilt  and  misery.  Lit- 
tle did  the  thoughtless  girl,  who  ends  her  life  a 
prostitute,  think,  that  when  indulging  a  vain 
pride  in  dress  and  show,  she  was  paving  the  way 
for  all  her  future  guilt  and  wretchedness;  but, 
"  The  way  of  the  wicked  seduceth  them." 

§  6.  Perhaps  you  are  clear  of  all  these  open 
crimes ;  perhaps  you  may  continue  so ;  you  may 
be  amiable  and  moral,  but  still  you  are  a  sinner; 

ProT.  xU.  J6. 


ITS  HARDENING  NATURE.  277 

and  it  is  inexpressibly  dreadful  to  delay  turning 
to  God.  Little  did  thousands,  once  like  you,  ima- 
gine \vhere  the  ways  of  irreligion  end.  It  is  dan- 
gerous to  trifle  with  God.  The  Spirit  has  be- 
gun to  strive  with  you,  but  you  know  not  how 
soon  he  may  have  done.  You  may  quench 
grace,  but  cannot  kindle  it.  These  three  kinds 
of  persons  are  seldom  brought  to  heaven.  Those 
who  long  persist  in  sin ;  those  who  long  enjoy 
the  means  of  grace  in  vain;  and  those  who  fall 
from  God.  Perhaps  because  you  imagine  there 
is  nothing  flagrant  in  your  pleasures  you  think 
them  innocent  delights.  But  are  they  such  in 
the  sight  of  God  ?  Are  they  such,  while  they 
steal  your  heart  from  him  ?  Are  they  such  as 
will  give  you  pleasure  at  last? 

Not  merely  are  the  ways  of  irreligion  inex- 
pressibly dangerous,  but  all  their  delights  so 
transient,  that  it  is  distraction  to  neglect  eternal 
life  for  them.  They  pass  away  like  an  arrow, 
and  end  in  the  most  bitter  despair.  O,  leave  the 
world,  before  the  world  leaves  you !  O  look  to 
Jesus,  before  he  says,  "1  never  knew  you,  depart 
from  me !" 

§  6.  "A  death-bed,  is  a  detector  of  the  heart;" 
it  proves  that  the  ways  of  sin  are  ways  of  sor- 
row. What  are  worldly  pleasures  then  ?  What 
comfort  can  they  give  ?  It  is  said  that  Mr.  Her. 
vey,  was  once  travelling  with  a  lady,  who  expati- 
ated largely  on  the  pleasures  of  the  play-house. 
She  mentioned  the  pleasure  of  thinking  before- 
hand of  the  play,  the  pleasure  of  seeing  it,  and 
the  pleasure  of  recoUecting  it  afterwards.  Mr. 
H.  mildly  observed,  that  there  was  one  pleasure 
which  she  had  not  mentioned.  She  inquired  what 
that  was  f  and  he  replied,  the  pleasure  of  recollect- 


278  MISERIES  OF  THE  UNGODLY 

ing  it  upon  her  death-bed.  She  felt  the  remark, 
and  is  said  to  have  sought  better  pleasures. 
The  miseries  that  await  those  who  are  strang-ers 
to  humble  piety  have  been  awfully  displayed  in 
the  dying-  hours  of  multitudes  who  had  slighted 
that  one  thing  needful. 

The  author  of  the  "Night  Thoughts,"  de- 
scribing  the  last  hours  of  one  who  was  once  es- 
teemed a  man  of  pleasure,  states, 

"  Refusing  to  hear  any  thing  from  me,  he  lay 
silent,  as  far  as  sudden  darts  of  pain  would  per- 
mit, till  the  clock  struck.  Then  with  vehemence 
exclaimed, '  O  time,  time !  it  is  fit  thou  shouldst 
thus  strike  thy  murderer  to  the  heart.  How  art 
thcu  fled  for  ever  ! —  A  month  !  O  for  a  single 
week  !  I  ask  not  for  years  ;  though  an  age  were 
too  little  for  the  much  I  have  to  do.* 

"  On  my  saying,  we  could  not  do  too  much : 
that  heaven  was  a  blessed  place  — '  So  much  the 
worse.  'Tis  lost !  'tis  lost  —  Heaven  is  to  me 
the  severest  part  of  hell !'  Soon  after  I  propo- 
sed prayer.  *Pray  you  that  can.  I  never  pray- 
ed. I  cannot  pray  —  nor  need  I.  Is  not  hea- 
ven on  my  side  already  ?  It  closes  with  my 
conscience.  Its  severest  strokes  but  second  my 
own.'     To  a  friend  he  said, 

'' '  Remorse  for  the  past,  throws  my  thoughts 
on  the  future.  Worse  dread  of  the  future  strikes 
them  back  on  the  past.  I  turn,  and  tuna,  and 
find  no  ray.  Didst  thou  feel  half  the  mountain 
that  is  on  me,  thou  wouldst  struggle  with  the 
martyr  for  his  stake,  and  bless  heaven  for  the 
flames ;  —  that  is  not  an  everlasting  flame  ;  that 
is  not  an  unquenchable  fire.'  He  afterwards  ex- 
claimed, '  O  !  thou  blasphemed  yet  most  indul- 


IN  THE  DAf  OF  DEATH.  279 

frent  Lord  God !  Hell  itself  is  a  refuge,  if  it 
hides  me  from  thy  frown.' " 

It  is  related  that  the  honourable  Francis  New- 
port, was  favoured  with  a  religious  education, 
afterwards  became  altogether  careless  of  religion, 
and  died  in  the  following  awful  manner. 

At  one  time,  looking  towards  the  fire,  he  said, 
''Oh  !  that  I  were  to  lie  and  broil  upon  that  fire 
for  a  hundred  thousand  years,  to  purchase  the 
favour  of  God,  and  be  reconciled  to  him  again  ! 
But  it  is  a  fruitless  vain  wish  ;  millions  of  rail- 
lions  of  years  will  bring  me  no  nearer  the  end  of 
my  tortures,  than  one  poor  hour.  O  eternity ! 
eternity  !  w^ho  can  properly  paraphrase  upon  the 
words — fo7'  ever  and  ever!" 

''In  this  kind  of  sti'ain  he  went  on,  till  his  dis- 
solution approached;  when  with  a  groan  so 
dreadful  and  loud,  as  if  it  had  not  been  human, 
he  cried  out,  "  Oh !  the  insufferable  pangs  of 
death  and  damnation  \"  and  so  died  ;  death  set- 
tling the  visage  of  his  face  in  such  a  form,  as  if 
the  body,  though  dead,  was  sensible  of  the  ex- 
tremity of  torments." 

Another  person,  who  was  a  gay  and  thought- 
less lover  of  the  world,  uttered  the  following, 
among  other  expressions,  in  his  dying  hours. 

"  O !  that  I  had  been  wise,  that  I  had  known 
this,  that  I  had  considered  my  latter  end.  Death 
is  knocking  at  my  doors :  in  a  few  hours  more 
I  shall  draw  my  last  gasp;  and  then  judgment, 
the  tremendous  judgment !  How  shall  I  appear, 
unprepared  as  I  am,  before  the  all-knowing  and 
omnipotent  God  !  How  shall  I  endure  the  day 
of  his  coming !  O  !  that  holiness  is  the  only 
thing  I  now  long  for.  I  would  gladly  part  with 
all  my  estate  large  as  it  is,  or  a  world  to  obtain  it. 


280  MISERIES  OF  THE  UNGODLY 

Now  my  benighted  eyes  are  enlightened.  What 
is  there  in  the  place  whither  I  am  going  but 
God  ?  Or  what  is  there  to  be  desired  on  earth 
but  religion  ?  The  day  in  which  I  should  have 
worked  is  over  and  gone,  and  I  see  a  sad  horrible 
night  approaching,  bringing  with  it  the  blackness 
of  darkness  for  ever.  Heretofore,  woe  is  me ! 
when  God  called,  I  refused ;  when  he  invited,  I 
was  one  of  them  that  made  excuse.  Now,  I  re- 
ceive the  reward  of  my  deeds ;  fearfulness  and 
trembling  are  come  upon  me;  and  yet  this  is 
but  the  beginning  of  sorrows !  It  doth  not  yet 
appear  what  I  shall  be  ;  but  sure  I  shall  be  ru- 
ined, undone,  and  destroyed  with  an  everlasting 
destruction !" 

A  young  woman  who  had  lived  negligent  of 
the  great  salvation,  not  long  before  she  died, 
burst  into  tears,  and  said,  "  O,  that  I  had  repent- 
ed, when  the  Spirit  of  God  was  striving  with  me ! 
but  now  I  am  undone."  She  afterwards  ex- 
claimed, "O,  how  have  I  been  deceived  !  When 
I  was  in  health,  I  delayed  repentance  from  time 
to  time.  O,  that  I  had  my  time  to  live  over 
again !  O,  that  I  had  obeyed  the  gospel !  but 
now  I  must  burn  in  hell  for  ever.  Oh  !  I  can- 
not bear  it.  I  cannot  bear  it."  Not  long  before 
she  died,  she  said,  "Eternity,  Eternity.  Oh,  to 
burn  throughout  eternity  \" 

Perhaps  you  think  such  cases,  though  dread- 
ful, not  frequent ;  but,  it  is  to  be  feared,  they  are 
by  no  means  rare.  Within  a  few  days,  several 
awful  instances,  of  the  danger  and  misery  of  an 
irreligious  state  have  been  mentioned  to  the 
writer.  One  unhappy  creature  in  his  dying 
hours,  among  a  number  of  dismal  expressions, 
used  such  as  the  following :  "Oh,  that  hell !  Why 


IN  THE  DAY  OF  DEATH.  281 

must  I  leave  this  earth  !  O,  that  hell !"  A  far- 
mer, filled  with  enmity  against  real  religion,  went 
from  his  house  into  an  adjacent  field,  uttering  a 
wish  that  he  might  never  enter  the  kingdom  of 
heaven,  if  he  did  not  ruin  a  pious  neighbour 
whom  he  disliked ;  and  scarcely  had  he  reached 
the  bottom  of  the  field,  before  he  dropped,  and 
died.  Another,  who  was  a  Socinian  in  princi- 
ple, and  in  practice  profane  and  worldly,  had,  by 
an  apoplectic  fit,  been  warned  to  prepare  for 
meeting  his  God;  but  he  would  not  listen  to  the 
warning;  his  health  returned;  he  loved  the 
world  ;  he  put  far  off  the  thoughts  of  death,  and 
often  talked  of  living  to  his  hundredth  year. 
One  afternoon,  it  was  stated  he  expressed  his  ex- 
pectation of  this  to  a  person,  in  a  neighbouring 
village :  Ah,  sad  presumption  on  to-morrow ! 
that  very  evening,  he  was  seized  by  another  fit, 
and  hurried  all  unprepared,  as  it  is  to  be  feared 
he  was,  to  the  bar  of  his  Judge. 

A  young  woman  who  had  occasionally  attend- 
ed the  writer's  ministry,  though,  alas!  in  vain, 
was  laid  upon  the  bed  of  death.  In  that  solemn 
situation,  her  lamentations  and  bitter  grief,  were 
most  affecting.  She  confessed  that  she  had  neg- 
lected the  great  salvation.  "  Oh !"  she  exclaimed, 
"Oh,  my  hard  heart!  I  find  no  softness  in  it. 
It  will  not  relent.  Is  there  no  forgiveness  for 
me  ?  Am  I  not  to  be  saved.  Lord  ?"  Her  most 
frequent  cry  was,  "  Lord,  break  my  hard  heart !" 
In  a  few  hours  after  this,  she  died. 

A  sick  man  whom  the  writer  visited,  who  once 
had  pious  impressions,  but  did  not  yield  to  them, 
observed,  "  I  would  give  ten  thousand  worlds  to 
be  pardoned."  The  language  of  another  suflfer- 
er,  often  seen  by  the  writer,  was  deeply  aflfect- 


282  DEATH  TERRIBLE 

ing.  "I  know  I  am  not  forgiven.  Oh!  it  is 
dreadful  to  die !  Oh,  millions  and  millions  of 
years  —  it  is  dreadful !  O  that  I  could  live  till 
1  am  forgiven  !  It  is  too  late  now !  It  is  all  over  ! 
O  that  I  had  come  to  Christ  sincerely !"  When 
spoken  to  of  the  Saviour's  mercy,  she  answered, 
"  That  is  what  makes  it  so  bad,  to  sin  against  so 
great  a  Saviour."  Alarmed  with  the  prospect  of 
eternal  ruin,  she  said,  "  Nothing  in  this  world  is 
to  be  compared  with  it.  The  Lord  will  not  he 
played  with  too  often." 

Another  young  woman  who  had  attended  the 
writei*'s  ministry,  but  who  continued  a  careless 
worldly  girl,  was  hurried,  by  a  sudden  disease, 
into  the  eternal  world.  It  was  stated  that  not 
many  hours  before  her  death,  she  warned  her 
sister,  not  to  walk  in  the  ways  in  which  she  had 
walked,  declaring  that  they  led  to  hell,  and  that 
she  was  going  thither. 

Is  such  the  conclusion  of  a  life  of  sin  ?  Are 
such  the  consequences  of  making  light  of  Christ? 
O,  then,  as  you  would  avoid  the  awful  end  of 
transgressors,  forsake  their  destructive  path  !  If 
you  continue  in  it,  your  own  departure  from  the 
world,  may  hereafter  resemble  theirs,  whose  un- 
happy end  has  been  now  described.  Bitter 
would  it  then  be  for  you,  to  think  of  those  sins, 
and  of  that  neglect  by  which  the  soul  is  undone. 
Alas !  what  madness  is  it  to  choose  damnation, 
if  you  may  but  go,  what  is  to  cormpt  nature,  a 
pleasant  way  to  hell. 

Listen  not  to  the  voice  of  seducers  who  would 
lead  you  to  ruin.  They  promise  you  liberty,  but 
aJ-e  themselves  the  slaves  of  sin.  Their  artifices 
to  lead  you  into  sin  or  to  keep  you  in  your  pre- 
sent state,  are  stratagems  of  Satan  to  ingulf  you 


TO  THE   UNGODLY.  283 

in  eternal  misery.  When  the  insidious  but  smi- 
ling seducer  would  tempt  you  astray,  think  with 
yourself,  "  Can  I  bear  my  Creator's  anger  ?  Can 
I  endure  my  Judge's  frown  ?  Can  I  dwell  with 
everlasting  burnings?  Shall  I  neglect  eternal 
life,  and  choose  eternal  death,  for  things  that 
perish  in  the  using  ?"  —  May  God  forbid.  Amen. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

THE  TERRORS,  AND  FEARFUL  CONSEQUENCES  OF 
DEATH  AND  JUDGMENT,  TO  THE  UNCONVERTED, 
A  REASON  FOR  EARLY  PIETY. 

§  1.  Has  what  I  have  already  urged  on  your 
attention  produced,  under  God,  the  desired  ef- 
fect ?  or  has  all  been  urged  in  vain  ?  if  it  have, 
let  me,  before  I  leave  you  for  ever,  entreat  you  to 
consider  those  awful  scenes,  to  which  you  are 
hastening  so  fast. 

Should  you  love  the  world  ever  so  well,  should 
you  enjoy  it  ever  so  much,  and  even  live  in  it 
through  the  longest  term  allowed  to  man,  yet 
short  is  the  longest,  and  when  past,  a  nothing. 
You  must  die.  How  thoughtless  soever  you 
may  be  of  death  and  eternity,  they  are  nearer  to 
you  every  hour,  and  you,  even  you  must  die. 
If  you  continue  to  live  without  God,  you  must 
die  without  him.  Imagine  yourself  leaving  the 
world  in  that  awful  state.  You  inust  leave  it  thus, 
unless  you  repent  and  remember  your  Creator. 
Imagine  your  last  day  arrived.  This  scene  of 
vanity  is  ending.  The  world  you  loved  is  leav- 
ing you  for  ever.  Behind  you  is  a  wasted  and 
sin-spent  life.    Before  you  is  the  grave,  judg- 


284  DEATH  OF  THE  UNGODLY, 

ment,  and  eternity.  Your  day  of  grace  is  finish- 
ed. Your  soul,  loaded  with  innumerable  sins, 
is  going  to  meet  that  God,  to  whom  all  your  se- 
cret guilt  has  been  revealed.  Where  can  you 
look  for  refuge  ?  Man  cannot  help  you,  and  you 
have  every  reason  to  believe  that  God  will  not. 
Now  sins  forgotten  come  to  mind  again.  Now 
guilty  pleasures  stare  you  in  the  face;  but  all 
their  charms  are  gone.  Now  fears  and  terrors 
crowd  upon  your  soul ;  and  devils  seem  to  beck- 
on you  away.  All  is  darkness  and  misery  be- 
fore ;  all  guilt  and  folly  behind.  O  fearful  state ! 
O  fearful  end  of  an  ungodly  life !  You  must 
plunge  into  eternity ;  and  justly  dread  the  aw- 
ful change.  No  friend  can  go  with  you;  you 
must  die  alone,  and  go  alone  to  meet  your  God. 
All  else  is  forsaking  you ;  and  he  who  would  ne- 
ver have  forsaken  you,  he  who  would  have  been 
your  friend  for  ever,  even  he  will  refuse  to  re- 
ceive you.  How  you  would  dread  to  be  carried 
to  sea  alone  on  a  single  plank ;  or  to  be  tossed 
alone  upon  some  unknown  shore,  where  you  knew 
none,  and  none  knew  you !  But  what  is  this  to 
passing  into  another  world,  where  all  is  strange 
and  new;  a  world  so  different  from  this  poor 
transient  state,  that  all  is  awful,  and  all  eternal 
there !  Yet  thither  you  must  go.  The  hour,  the 
dreadful  hour  arrives.  Your  last  moment  comes, 
you  die ;  and  ah !  the  agonies  of  death  are  suc- 
ceeded by  the  fiercer  torments  of  damnation  and 
despair.  No  kind  angels  welcome  your  depart- 
ing spirit.  No  gentle  messengers  appear  to  con- 
vey it  to  eternal  rest.  O  doleful  state !  if  this 
were  the  worst ;  but  far  worse  than  this  remains 
untold.  Your  sweet  season  of  mercy  is  gone ; 
and  in  vain  you  wish  for  mercy  and  for  time 


TlSTu"  DREADFUL  ENTRANCE  ON  ETERNITY.        285 

ag-ain.  Weepings  friends  commit  your  body  to 
the  grave ;  friends  who  little  ima^ne  where  the 
wretched  soul  is  fixed.  There  must  the  body  lie, 
till  it  rise  to  the  resurrection  of  damnation. 
Your  soul  is  conveyed  to  the  infernal  prison ; 
there  to  await  its  final  and  still  more  dreadful 
doom,  at  that  day  when  the  soul  and  body,  that 
were  partners  in  sin,  shall  be  partners  in  misery. 
§  2.  Oh,  how  dreadful  a  change  is  this !  Oh, 
when  they,  who  trifle  with  salvation,  have  breath- 
ed their  last,  how  may  they  shrink  back  from  the 
scene  which  opens  before  them  !  how  may  their 
terrified  souls  wish  to  creep  into  their  dead  bo- 
dies again  !  but  wish  in  vain.  Oh,  what  terrible 
dismay  must  seize  upon  them,  when  that  eternal 
world  which  they  neglected,  all  at  once  appears 
before  them!  When  the  majesty  and  glory  of 
that  God,  whose  threatenings  and  invitations  they 
equally  disregarded,  burst  upon  them !  and  no 
place  to  hide  their  affrighted  souls ;  no  way  to 
escape  the  terrifying  sight.  Now  indeed  they 
find  it  a  fearful  thing,  to  fall  into  the  hands  of 
the  living  God,  whose  mercy  is  changed  to  ven- 
geance. Oh,  miserable  immortals  !  how  terrible 
are  their  feelings,  while  they  stand  trembling 
and  despairing,  before  the  great  and  dreadful 
God,  and  see  him  who  is  love  itself  to  his  chil- 
dren, arrayed  in  vengeance  and  terror  against 
them !  O,  could  they  shrink  back  for  one  year 
more  to  life !  What  worlds,  if  they  had  them, 
would  they  give  to  gain  this  boon.  O,  could 
Ihey  have  but  one  month's  mercy  more,  or  could 
they  die  a  second  time  and  never  live  again.  Oh, 
how  distressing,  beyond  the  impassable  gulf,  to 
see  the  blessed  heaven  but  themselves  shut  out. 
(Luke,  xvi.  26.)    To  see  those  glorious  and  hap- 


286  THE  YOUNG  SINNER  REMINDED 

py  saints  and  angels,  that  might  have  been  their 
companions  for  ever,  but  now  not  one  friend 
among  them.  To  see  what  they  might  have  en- 
joyed, and  what  their  sin  and  neglect  of  Christ 
have  lost.  And  Oh,  though  heaven  is  shut  against 
them,  hell  is  open  to  receive  them;  that  is  the  re- 
gion, which  they  must  take  instead  of  heaven ; 
that  seat  of  horrors;  that  mournful  gloom;  that 
outer  darkness;  that  wretched  abode  of  everlast- 
ing fire,  and  ever-tormenting  fiends.  Oh,  dread- 
ful hour,  when  they  enter  that  flaming  prison, 
yet  there  they  must  await  eternal  judgment. 

§  3.  Ah  my  young  friend,  remember  that  the 
hour,  the  now  forgotten,  but,  if  you  live  in  your 
sins,  the  terrible  hour  of  eternal  judgment  will 
arrive.  You  may  forget  it  now,  but  will  be  una- 
ble to  forget  it  then.  You  possibly  laugh  at  the 
expectation  of  it,  but  will  then  find  it  dreadfully 
serious,  to  see  and  feel  its  terrors.  You,  even  you, 
7nust  hear  the  archangel's  trumpet.  You  must 
behold  the  descending  Judge,  and  the  burning 
world.  Willing  or  unwilling,  ready  or  unready, 
there  you  must  appear.  There  will  be  no  shrink- 
ing from  trial ;  no  escaping  the  notice  of  the 
Judge;  no  lingering  longer  in  the  grave.  Ap- 
pear you  must,  for,  "  the  Lord  Jesus  shall  be  re- 
vealed from  heaven  with  his  mighty  angels,  in 
flaming  fire,  taking  vengeance  on  them  that 
know  not  God,  and  that  obey  not  the  gospel  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ :  Who  shall  be  punish- 
ed with  everlasting  destruction  from  the  presence 
of  the  Lord,  and  from  the  glory  of  his  power. 
God  will  render  unto  every  man  according  to  his 
deeds.  Ui>to  them  that  are  contentious,  and  do 
not  obey  the  truth,  but  obey  unrighteousness,  in- 

2Thes8.  i.7— 9. 


OF  ETERNAL  JUDGMENT.  287 

dignation  and  wrath,  tribulation  and  anguish, 
upon  every  soul  of  man  that  doeth  evil.  Rejoice, 
O  young  man,  in  thy  youth,  and  let  thy  heart 
cheer  thee  in  the  days  of  thy  youth,  and  walk 
in  the  ways  of  thy  heart,  and  in  the  sight  of  thine 
eyes ;  but  know  thou,  that  for  all  these  things 
God  will  bring  thee  into  judgment.  And  who- 
soever was  not  found  written  in  the  book  of  life 
was  cast  into  the  lake  of  fire."  Do  you  believe 
that  such  a  day  will  come,  and  can  you  forget 
it?  forget  that  day,  that  joyful,  or  that  dreadful 
day,  which  will  come  as  surely  as  the  sun  shines 
in  the  heavens  ;  forget  that  awful  day,  when  you, 
without  any  fear  or  hope  of  change,  must  be- 
come like  the  angels  of  heaven,  or  the  fiends  of 
hell.  O,  will  you  forget  it  ?  If  you  were  going 
on  trial  for  your  life,  before  an  earthly  judge, 
how  anxious  would  you  be  to  procure  an  acquit- 
tal ;  and  when  you  have  to  go  before  an  infinite- 
ly higher  Judge,  whose  decision  will  be  life  or 
death  eternal,  will  you  be  so  distracted  as  to  re- 
main unconcerned  ? 

§  4.  There  you  must  account  for  the  deeds 
done  in  the  body.  Then  your  actions  must  be 
tried ;  your  words  examined ;  then  the  black  ag- 
gravations of  your  crimes  will  fully  appear.  O 
sinner,  then  it  will  be  known,  how  you  broke 
through  the  checks  of  conscience;  and  the  re- 
straints of  religion;  how  you  were  warned  of 
your  danger,  and  exhorted  to  repent,  but  still, 
obstinately  impenitent,  went  forward  to  destruc- 
tion. Or  if  your  heart  has,  at  times,  been  seri- 
ously impressed,  and  yet  in  vain,  it  will  then  be 
seen,  as  one  of  the  aggravations  of  your  sins, 

Rom.  ii.  6.  8.  9.    Eccles.  xi.  9.     Rev.  xx.  15.     Rom.  xiv.  12. 
2Cor.  V.  10.        Matt.  xii.  3<i, 


288  GOD  WILL  BRING  YOUNG 

that  you  felt  the  power  of  divine  truth,  and  yet 
went  on  to  sin  again.  The  sermons  of  ministers, 
the  admonitions  of  friends,  and  the  warnings  of 
the  Bible,  will  all  be  remembered  in  judgment, 
and  produced,  to  show  how  much  greater  is  your 
guilt,  than  theirs,  who  lived  in  heathen  lands,  and 
heard  no  tidings  of  salvation.  Then  too  it  will 
be  known  what  poor  trifles,  what  base  delights, 
you  preferred  to  the  love  of  God  and  the  joys 
of  heaven.  O,  think  not  to  escape !  God  will 
bring  thee  into  judgment.  Though  thou  shouldst 
be  hardened  in  life,  and  even  deluded  in  death, 
yet  when  thou  hast  had  thy  day  of  sin,  God  will 
have  his  day  of  vengeance ;  and  when  thou  hast 
had  the  pleasure,  thou  must  have  the  pain. 
Think  not  that  you  have  done  with  the  sinful 
pleasures  and  follies  of  past  years.  You  have 
not  done  with  them  yet ;  the  delight  is  gone,  but 
the  sad  account  remains  behind.  You  perhaps 
call  your  youthful  sins,  frolics,  or  innocent  sports, 
or  foibles  at  the  worst,  but  if  you  are  thus  deceiv- 
ed, God  is  not.  Your  slights  of  religion ; — your 
neglect  of  his  service,  and  his  ways;  —  your 
broken  sabbaths;  —  your  wasted  days;  —  your 
pride ;  —  your  vanity ;  must  all  be  answered  for 
en  that  tremendous  day. 

§  5.  Know,  O  young  man,  if  you  are  a  follow- 
er of  the  world,  you  must  then  receive  the  re- 
ward of  all  your  sinful  actions;  your  riotings 
and  revellings,  your  drunkenness  and  debauch- 
eries, your  hardening  others  in  sin,  your  wanton 
songs,  your  profane  words,  shall  all  come  to  light, 
and  insure  your  damnation.  Though  you  may 
be  a  wanton  profligate,  or  even  a  scoffing  infidel, 
yet  God  will  bring  you  into  judgment ;  and  in- 
fidel as  you  may  be,  will  make  you  tremble  be- 


SINNERS  INTO  JUDGMENT  289 

tore  that  bar,  which  is  the  object  of  your  contempt 
and  ridicule  now.  Or  if  you  are  all  that  is  mo- 
ral and  amiable  in  the  sight  of  men,  yet  if  desti- 
tute of  saving  grace,  God  will  see  in  you  ten 
thousand  unforgiven  ^ins,  for  which  he  will  con- 
demn you  then.  Know,  O  young  woman  !  that 
God  will  then  bring  you  also  into  judgment. 
Your  sabbaths  wasted  in  indolence  or  trifling 
merriment  —  your  time  squandered  on  poison- 
ous novels  —  your  heart  wrapped  up  in  dress  and 
gaiety,  while  God  and  religion  are  shut  out  of  it 

—  your  glass  consulted,  while  the  Redeemer  is 
neglected  —  your  fondness  for  worldly  delights 

—  your  forgetfulness  of  your  poor  immortal  soul 

—  all  these  sins  and  many  more,  are  crying  to 
heaven  against  you,  and  not  one,  in  that  awful 
day,  will  be  forgotten.  Perhaps  all  who  wish 
you  well  for  ever,  strive  in  vain  to  impress 
your  heart ;  but  God  will  make  you  listen,  God 
will  bring  you  into  judgment.  Vain  will  be  the 
pleas  and  excuses  that  now  deceive  yourself  and 
others.  The  Judge  will  pronounce  the  dread- 
ful sentence  ;  he  will  say,  "  Depart  from  me,  ye 
cursed,  into  everlasting  fire,  prepared  for  the  de- 
vil and  his  angels,"  and  dt'part  you  must.  Oh, 
dreadful  sentence  !  to  depart  from  Christ,  the  on- 
ly source  of  happiness —  to  depail  from  him  ac- 
cursed, laden  with  the  heavy  curse  and  wrath  of 
God,  never  to  be  removed  —  to  depart  from  him, 
accursed,  into  everlasting  fire,  and  that  the  fire, 
which  was  prepared  for  the  devil  and  his  angels! 

§  6.  O  stop,  my  young  reader  !  while  this  sen- 
tence sounds  in  your  ears;  stop,  and  consider 
your  ways.  Can  you  bear  to  have  it,  with  all  its 
horrors,  pronounced  upon  you  ?  If  not,  O,  turn 
•to  God.    Consider,  that  if  you  harden  your  heart 


290  FINAL  DOOM  OF  THE  UNGODLY. 

against  this  friendly  call,  that  time  is  comins^ 
when  you  must  remember  it.  In  the  latter  days, 
says  God,  ye  shall  consider  it  perfectly.  God  will 
then  remember  the  sins  and  ingratitude  of  your 
youth.  At  that  last  day  you  may  call  for  mer- 
cy, and  God  refuse  to  listen,  as  he  now  calls  on 
you  to  turn  to  Christ,  and  you  refuse  to  heark- 
en. His  word  says,  "Because  I  have  called,  and 
ye  refused  ;  T  have  stretched  out  mine  hand,  and 
no  man  regarded  ;  but  ye  have  set  at  nought  all 
my  counsel,  and  would  none  of  my  reproof;  I 
also  will  laugh  at  your  calamity,  I  will  mock  when 
your  fear  cometh.  Then  shall  they  call  upon 
me,  but  I  will  not  answer;  they  shall  seek  me 
early,  but  they  shall  not  find  me.  They  would 
none  of  my  counsel;  they  despised  all  my  re- 
proof; Therefore  shall  they  eat  of  the  fruit  of 
their  own  way,  and  be  filled  with  their  own  de, 
vices."  Then,  when  all  his  terrors  are  set  in  ar- 
ray agoinst  you,  how  will  you  answer  him  ?  You 
cannot  say  you  were  not  called  to  serve  him,  for 
the  lines  you  are  reading  would  witness  against 
you.  You  cannot  say  you  were  too  young,  and 
expected  longer  time,  for  he  has  taught  you  that 
the  youngest  are  not  too  young  to  die,  and  that 
those  who  seek  him  early  shall  find  him.  Alas, 
what  will  you  then  think  of  this  warning  !  how 
tremble  before  your  Maker  for  the  sins  of  your 
youth.  The  Lord  Jesus  Christ  will  remember 
your  ingratitude  and  wickedness  ;  and  when  they 
who  sought  and  found  him  betimes,  have  entered 
his  eternal  rest,  while  he  crowns  them  with  his 
everlasting  love,  you,  a  poor  trembling,  unforgiven 
creature,  may  knock  at  the  door  of  mercy,  then 
for  ever  shut.     You  may  join  your  voice  with 

Jer.  xxiii.  20.        Prov.  i.  24  —  31. 


THEIR  HOPELESS  STATE  AND  LATE  REGRET.   291 

that  of  foolish  millions,  in  the  dismal  cry,  "Lord, 
Lord,  open  unto  us  !  Leave  us  not  in  endless  woe, 
and  infinite  despair.  Leave  us  not  the  prey  of 
devils,  and  the  scorn  of  hell.  Leave  us  not  with- 
out one  glimmering  beam  of  hope,  through  a 
dreadful  eternity"  Alas,  vain  cry,  the  Judge 
will  say,  /  never  knew  you,  depart  from  me  !  O, 
be  wise !  and  guard,  by  early  piety,  against  the 
terrors  of  that  day.  The  eternal  Judge  will  not 
be  thus  inexorable,  unless,  by  your  choice  of  sin, 
you  make  him  so.  Give  him  now  your  heart, 
and  he  will  then  give  you  a  crown  of  life  which 
fadeth  not  away. 

§  7.  But  if  you  will  not  regard  this  advice,  you 
will  then  know  your  cruelty  to  your  own  soul. 
Then  you  may  sadly  exclaim,  "  God  was  kind  to 
me ;  he  sought  my  happiness,  and  had  I  listen- 
ed to  his  voice,  I  should  have  been  for  ever  hap- 
py. The  Son  of  God  was  gracious  to  me.  O, 
how  numberless  were  his  compassions;  had  I 
regarded  them,  how  blessed  should  I  now  have 
been.  The  Spirit  of  God  was  kind  to  me; 
though  grieved  and  resisted,  how  long  he  strove 
with  me.  O,  had  I  yielded  to  his  gentle  influ- 
ence, no  creature  surely  had  been  more  blessed 
than  I.  The  servants  of  God  were  kind  to  me. 
Pious  friends  warned  me,  and  prayed  for  me, 
and  wept  for  me.  Faithful  ministers  taught  me, 
and  laboured  for  my  good,  and  wished  for  no  re- 
ward, but  my  salvation.  But  I,  alas  !  was  unkind 
to  all  these,  and  cruel  to  myself.  I  denied  them 
all  they  sought  —  my  happiness;  —  all  they 
prayed  for  —  to  see  me  snatched  from  hell.  O, 
had  I  had  but  half  that  compassion  for  myself, 
which  others  had  for  me,  how  blessed  had  I  been 

Matt.  vii.  23. 


S>92  ETERNAL  RUIN  AN  AWFUL 

now  !  O,  had  I  ]et  my  God,  my  Redeemer,  my 
Christian  friends,  or  ministers,  have  their  desire, 
I  should  now  have  been  rising  to  eternal  glory ; 
but  ungrateful  to  God,  and  cruel  to  myself,  I  have 
undone  my  own  soul  with  an  everlasting  des- 
truction. Wretch  that  I  was,  to  have  no  pity  on 
myself,  while  so  many  pitied  me.  Wretch  that 
I  was,  to  rush  so  madly  to  eternal  flames,  while 
so  many  strove  to  keep  me  out ;  and  alas,  so  ob- 
stinately to  refuse  such  blessings,  while  so  many 
sought  to  make  me  a  partaker  of  them." 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

THE  ETERNAL  RUIN  OF  THE  UNGODLY  A  MOTIVE  FOR 
THE  EARLY  CHOICE  OF  RELIGION. 

§  1.  There  exists,  in  many  minds,  a  strong 
dislike  to  a  faithful  representation  of  those  hor- 
rors, to  which  the  ungodly  are  exposed  in  the 
eternal  world  ;  yet  the  divine  Saviour  and  his 
apostles,  by  denunciations  of  the  terrors  of  a 
wretched  eternity,  warn  the  sinful  to  flee  from  the 
wrath  to  come.  Far,  my  youthful  reader,  am  I 
from  loving  to  dwell  on  so  painful,  so  dreadful  a 
subject.  Fain  would  I  have  you  sweetly  con- 
strained by  the  love  of  Christ  to  follow  him ;  but 
perhaps  I  address  some  hardened,  or  some 
thoughtless  son  or  daughter  of  folly,  on  whom 
that  love  has  made  no  impression.  O!  then  let 
me  make  one  effort  more  for  your  salvation  ;  and 
though  it  is  a  dreadful  reason,  let  me  urge  one 
reason  more  for  your  accepting  the  grace  of  God. 
And  O,  eternal  God  I  now  assist  me,  and  by  thy 
terrors  alarm  that  thoughtless  soul,  which  thy 
love  has  not  affected,  nor  thy  promises  allured. 


MOTIVE  FOR  EARLY  PIETY.  203 

§  2.  Dreadful  are  the  representations  which 
the  Scriptures  give  of  the  punishment  of  the  un- 
godly. Hell  is  described  as  "  a  lake  of  fire  ;"  of 
fire  prepared  to  punish  the  "devil  and  his  angels." 
"At  the  end  of  the  w^orld,  the  angels  shall  sev- 
er the  wicked  from  among  the  just,  and  shall 
cast  them  into  the  furnace  of  fire."  The  Judge 
shall  say,  "  Depart  from  me,  ye  cursed,  into  ever- 
lasting fire,  prepared  for  the  devil  and  his  an- 
gels. And  these  shall  go  away  into  everlasting 
punishment."  "  He  will  burn  up  the  chaff  with 
unquenchable  fire."  "The  fearful,  and  unbeliev- 
ing, and  the  abominable,  and  murderers,  and 
whoremongers,  and  sorcerers,  and  idolaters,  and 
all  liars,  shall  have  their  part  in  the  lake  which 
buraeth  with  fire  and  brimstone ;  which  is  the 
second  death."  "And  the  smoke  of  their  tor- 
ment ascendeth  up  for  ever  and  ever;  and  they 
have  no  rest  day  nor  night."  "  It  is  better  for 
thee  to  enter  into  life  maimed,  than  having  two 
hands  to  go  into  hell,  into  the  fire  that  never 
shall  be  quenched,  where  their  worm  dieth  not, 
and  the  ^re  is  not  quenched."  "  The  wicked  shall 
be  turned  into  hell,  and  all  the  nations  that  for- 
get God."  The  Lord  Jesus  himself  tells  of  one 
who  lived  in  wealth  and  pleasure,  but  he  died, 
and  "in  hell  he  lifted  up  his  eyes,  being  in  tor- 
ments, and  seeth  Abraham  afar  oflf,  and  Laza- 
rus in  his  bosom  ;  and  he  cried  and  said.  Fa- 
ther Abraham,  have  mercy  on  me,  and  send  La- 
zarus, that  he  may  dip  the  tip  of  his  finger  in 
water,  and  cool  my  tongue ;  for  I  am  toraiented 
in  this  flame.  But  Abraham  said.  Son,  remem- 
ber that  thou  in  thy  life  time  receivedst  thy  good 

ftlatt.  xiii.  40,  50.      Matt.  xxv.  41,  46.      Matt.  iii.  12.      Rev.  xxi.  8. 
Rev.  xiv.  3.     Mark,  ix.  43.      Ps.  ix.  17.     Luke,  xvi.  23. 


294  WRETCHEDNESS  OF  THE  LOST. 

things.,  and  likewise  Lazarus  evil  things;  but 
now  he  is  comforted,  and  thou  art  tormented. 
And  besides  all  this,  between  us  and  you  there 
is  a  great  gulf  fixed ;  so  that  they  which  would 
pass  from  hence  to  you  cannot ;  neither  can  they 
pass  to  us  that  would  come  from  thence." 

§  3.  What  bitter  misery  must  they  endure, 
who  feel  the  wretchedness  here  described ! 
What  outward  torment !  what  inward  anguish ! 
How  dire  will  be  the  horrors  of  the  hellish  pri- 
son! The  place,  the  company,  the  state,  will 
all  unite  to  make  hell  a  hell  indeed.  Figure  to 
yourself  a  prisoner,  in  the  most  dismal  dungeon 
of  the  most  dismal  prison.  No  light  ever  shines 
there.  The  poor  sufferer  has  wept  away  a  score 
of  years  in  darkness.  Black  bread  is  his  only 
food,  water  his  drink.  No  human  tongue  ever 
utters  one  kind  word  to  him.  He  hears  no  sound 
but  the  harsh  grating  of  rusty  doors,  and  the  rat- 
tling of  chains  In  vain  for  him  the  sun  shines, 
he  sees  it  not.  Others  are  happy,  but  he  is 
wretched.  Others  have  friends,  but  he  has  none. 
Others  have  homes,  a  dungeon  is  his  home. 
Others  have  clothes,  chains  are  almost  his  only 
covering.  Others  have  comfort,  no  comfort  is 
ever  his. —  This  is  a  prisoner  in  the  dungeon  of 
some  earthly  tyrant ;  but  time  is  flying,  a  great- 
er than  man  will  soon  set  him  at  liberty.  Ah ! 
for  what  would  you  be  in  such  a  situation  ? 
Would  the  whole  world  bribe  you  to  pass  twen- 
ty  years  in  such  a  dungeon?  Twenty  years  thus 
spent  would  seem  longer  than  twenty  ages.  Yet, 
ah !  to  those  who  have  sunk  to  hell,  what  a  hea- 
ven would  the  prisoner's  dungeon  seem  !  Com- 
pared with  the  miseries  of  damnation,  his  mis- 
eries would  be  blessedness. 


THEIR  PLEASURES  AND  MERCIES  ENDED.      295 

§  4.  All  the  delights  of  lost  souls  are  gone  for 
ever.  Their  pleasures,  which  they  \<  ved  instead 
of  God,  arp  for  ever  departed  Their  lans'h- 
ter  is  ended ;  their  mirth  is  finished.  They  have 
done  with  play-houses,  and  card-tables,  and  tav- 
erns, and  romances,  and  novels.  They  sing  their 
wanton  songs  no  more ;  but  groan  beneath  the 
sting  of  every  guilty  pleasure.  All  their  delu- 
sive hopes  are  fled  ;  they  no  longer  dream  of 
heaven ;  but  hope  has  left  them  to  be  torment- 
ed by  black  despair.  All  their  false  peace  is 
passed  away;  and  they  learn  by  bitter  experi- 
ence, that  there  is  no  peace  to  the  wicked.  Once 
they  deluded  themselves  with  presumptuous  ex- 
pectations, and  hoped  for  heaven,  while  they 
slighted  the  only  way,  that  can  lead  a  sinner 
thither;  but  now  they  are  dreadfully  unde- 
ceived. Once  they  could  scorn  religion  as  un- 
necessary strictness ;  but,  now,  too  late  they 
know  that  it  was  the  only  real  wisdom.  ^Yith 
all  their  pleasures,  and  delusive  hopes,  every 
other  mercy  forsakes  them.  No  sabbath  shines 
on  them.  No  season  of  mercy  cheers  them  with 
its  light ;  their  day  is  ended,  and  a  horrible 
night  of  eteraal  darkness  has  begun.  Once  they 
might  have  prayed  ;  but  then  they  would  not, 
and  in  hell  .they  cannot.  God  calls  on  them  no 
more ;  but  lias  forgotten  to  be  gracious.  Jesus 
pities  them  no  more ;  nor  can  his  blood  ever 
wash  away  one  of  their  sins,  though  once  it 
might  have  cleansed  them  from  all.  The  Spi- 
rit strives  with  them  no  more.  Once  they  would 
not  turn ;  and  now  they  cannot.  No  one  will 
ever  more  pray  for  them :  No  friendly  voice  will 
ever  say  to  them,  "  Sinner,  turn,  there  is  mercy  for 
you."     The  sermons  of  ministers  shall  no  Jon^- 


296  HEAVEN  LOST  —  HELL 

er  weary  them ;  for  they  shall  hear  of  gospel 
grace  no  more  :  the  admonitions  of  pious  friends 
shall  no  longer  trouble  them  ;  for  in  hell  they  are 
fixed  beyond  the  reach  of  hope,  or  prayer,  or 
admonition,  or  mercy. 

All  the  blessings  of  the  eternal  world,  will  be 
for  ever  lost  to  them,  God  will  never  cheer  tiiem 
with  his  smile.  Never  will  they  pass  a  single 
hour,  where  saints  and  angels  enjoy  a  whole  eter- 
nity. They  are  shut  out  of  the  heavenly  city. 
Their  eyes  will  never  behold  its  glories  ;  their 
ears  never  be  enraptured  with  its  melodies ; 
their  hearts  never  be  gladdened  with  its  delights. 
No  crown  of  glory  will  ever  be  theirs.  Their 
tongues  shall  never  join  the  heavenly  anthems 
of  praise,  for  victory  and  salvation.  God  will 
never  wipe  one  tear  from  their  eyes;  or  remove 
one  pain  from  their  hearts ;  but  will  pour  out  up- 
on them  all  the  fierceness  of  his  wrath.  Jesus 
will  never  lead  them  to  fountains  of  heavenly 
pleasure  ;  not  for  one  moment,  manifest  to  them 
the  smallest  portion  of  that  love,  which  in  full 
perfection,  he  will  manifest  to  his  friends, 
through  one  eternal  day. 

§  5.  In  hell  too,  every  detestable  evil,  every 
abominable  passion,  will  reign  and  triumph.  The 
unhappy  creature  that  sinks  into  that  dreadful 
prison,  will  have  no  C(-'mpanions  but  tormenting 
devils,  and  the  spirits  of  the  damned.  They, 
whose  lives  were  the  blackest,  and  whose  di^po- 
siti'-ns  the  most  horrid,  will  meet  theie.  Nero 
and  llerod,  and  cruel  persecutors;  Alexander, 
and  bloody  conquerors  ;  the  guilty  crew  of  So- 
dom and  Gomorrah  ;  Paine  and  Voltaire,  Hume 
and  hardened  infidels ;  profane  blasphemers,  fe- 
rocious murderers,  swearers,  adulterers,  drunk- 


THE  ABODE  OF  ALL  THAT  IS  HATEFUL.       297 

ards,  with  Satan  and  his  angels,  will  compose 
the  dreadful  society  of  hell.  Among  all  these 
there  will  not  be  one  mild  disposition,  or  one 
circumstance  to  soften  the  rage  of  the  infernal 
passions  they  feel  within  There,  alas  !  must 
they  dwell,  hateful,  and  haling  one  another  ;  ever 
tormenting,  and  ever  tormented  ;  w  ith  every  hell- 
ish passion,  and  every  devilish  disposition,  aug- 
mented by  the  madness  of  despair.  There  not 
one  soft  word  will  be  ever  spoken;  not  one  mild 
look  ever  seen ;  but  rage  and  fury  be  vented  in 
curses  and  blasphemy.  O,  could  you  endure  in 
this  world,  such  company  for  a  single  day  !  how- 
dreadful  is  their  lot,  who  must  dwell  with  devils 
and  the  damned  /br  ever  ! 

§  6.  To  all  this  misery  is  added,  that  of  the 
fire  that  never  shall  be  quenched.  And  Oh, 
who  can  dwell  with  devouring  fire?  who  can 
endure  everlasting  burnings  ?  All  the  torments 
which  martyrs  have  suflfered,  would  be  almost 
easy,  compared  with  the  torments  of  damna- 
tion. Many  of  those  faithful  servants  of  God 
have  yielded  up  their  lives,  in  the  midst  of  dread- 
ful burnings;  but  these  were  not  an  everlasting 
fire.  An  old  writer  says,  'I  have  read  of  the 
horrid  execution  of  a  traitor :  being  naked,  he 
was  chained  fast  to  a  chair  of  brass  or  some  other 
metal,  that  would  burn  most  furiously,  being  fill- 
ed with  fiery  heat;  about  which  was  made  a 
mighty  fire,  that  by  little  and  little  caused  the 
chair  to  be  red  and  raging  hot,  so  that  the  mise- 
rable man  roared  hideously  many  hours  for  ex- 
tremest  anguish,  and  so  expired.  But  what  an 
horrible  thing  had  it  been  to  have  lain  in  that 
dreadful  torment  eternally."  If  merely  a  finger 
be  burnt,  or  one  litab  be  scorched,  bow  tormtnt- 


298  "WHO  CAN  DWELL 

ino^  is  the  pain !  yet  what  is  this  compared  with 
sinking  in  the  flaming^  waves  of  hell,  tormented  in 
every  part,  and  nothinor  to  give  a  momentary  re- 
lief! yet  this  must  be  the  careless  sinner's  dread- 
ful portion.  The  Son  of  God  himself  has  declar- 
ed the  awful  truth ;  and  it  is  hideous  cruelty  to 
an  immortal  soul,  to  undo  it,  through  a  delusive 
hope,  that  God's  threatenings  will  not  be  fulfilled. 
Can  you  then,  O  young  sinner  !  dwell  with  ever- 
lading  burnings  f"  you  must,  if  you  do  not  repent. 
If  your  hand  were  thrust  into  a  flaming  furnace, 
the  torment  would  be  great,  but  more  supporta- 
ble,if  you  were  assured  that  in  a  minute,  it  should 
be  taken  out  again:  but  if  your  hand  were  capa- 
ble of  lasting  so  long  and  you  were  assured  that 
it  should  continue  burning  for  life,  how  intolera- 
ble would  your  misery  seem  !  how  would  you 
wish  for  death  to  end  it,  yet  it  would  be  a  no- 
thing, compared  with  what  the  spirits  of  the  lost 
must  feel  in  hell.  There  all  the  soul,  and,  after 
the  resurrection,  all  the  immortal  body,  must  en- 
dure indescribable  misery,  and  no  easy  part  with- 
in or  without.  How  dreadful  is  the  state  of  those, 
who,  dying  in  their  sins,  are  dragged  down  by  de- 
vils, to  infinite  despair!  Oh,  what  a  change,  when 
they  are  snatched  away  from  the  world  they  lov- 
ed, to  that  where  there  is  nothing  but  malignant 
spirits  to  torment  them  !  no  sound  of  a  Saviour's 
love;  but  horrid  lamentations  and  despair. 
What  fearful  horrors  stare  them  in  the  face  on 
every  side  !  How  would  they  shrink  back  from 
the  mouth  of  the  infernal  dungeon,  but  Oh  !  they 
cannot,  for  the  wrath  of  an  incensed  God  drives 
them  in.  And  when  once  they  have  entered  it, 
it  is  for  eternity.  Alas  !  how  infernal  the  socie- 
ty, how  doleful  the  abode  !     Oh  the  dreadful  tor- 


WITH  EVERLASTING  BURNINGS  !"  299 

ments  of  eternal  fire  !  Oh  the  horrid  company  of 
hellish  fiends !  Where  can  they  turn  their  af- 
frighted eyes ?  Alas!  it  is  every  where  the  same 
sad  spectacle,  blackness,  and  darkness,  and  de- 
vils, and  flame.  O  could  they  die  again,  but  die 
they  cannot.  Roll  on,  ye  everlasting  ages,  but 
why  roll  on  ?  ye  will  never  be  nearer  to  an  end. 

"Tempests  of  angry  fire  shall  roll 

To  blast  the  rebel  worm, 
And  beat  upon  his  naHed  soul. 

In  one  eternal  storm. '- 

How  dreadful  a  change  is  this  for  the  careless 
sinner!  Here  he  has  many  comforts,  and  what 
be  esteems  pleasures  ;  there,  not  one.  Here  ten- 
der friends  are  his  companions  by  day ;  but  there 
are  no  kind  companions  there.  By  nii^ht  an  ea- 
sy bed  refreshes  his  weary  limbs ;  and  in  calm 
sleep  even  his  sorrows  are  forgotten;  but  there 
he  will  sleep  no  more  to  forget  his  misery ;  but 
writhe  and  toss  his  w  retched  form  for  ever  on  the 
lake  of  fire.  Here  even  the  most  distressed  have 
something  remaining  to  lessen  their  wretched- 
ness; but  there,  human  kindness  cannot  enter; 
and  devils  cannot  love.  There  is  nothing  to  give, 
even  once  in  ten  thousand  years,  a  momentary 
pleasure.  No  ease  to  mingle  with  a  sea  of  mi- 
sery. Not  one  gleam  of  hope  to  brighten  an  eter- 
nal night.  Not  one  drop  of  water,  to  cool  for  a 
moment  the  wretched  tongue  tormented  in  that 
everlasting  flame.  Misery  will  reign  in  every 
heart;  despair  will  scowl  on  every  face;  rage, 
anguish,  and  remorse,  distract  every  soul. 

§  7.  Ah  it  will  be  so.  To  the  fire  that  never 
shall  be  quenched,  is  added  the  worm  that  will 
never  die.  The  lost  sinner  will  feel  a  hell  within, 
as  well  as  hell  without.    Infernal  passions,  like 


300  NARRATIVE,  ILLUSTRATING 

SO  many  ravenous  vultures,  will  tear  his  wre^clied 
soul.  Little,  young  sinner,  do  you  imagine, 
what  misery  will  spring  from  this  one  source. 
Some  unhappy  creatures  even  in  this  world,  have 
seemed  to  be  lively  images  of  what  lost  souls 
must  be  for  ever.  A  statement  to  the  following 
effect  appeared  in  1797,  in  the  New  York  Theo- 
logical Magazine.  "  A  young  man  who  had  had 
some  serious  impressions,  but  who  hardened 
himself  in  sin,  declared,  that  after  that  time 
when  God  seems  to  have  forsaken  him,  his 
heart  became  as  hard  as  adamant  —  his  enmity 
against  God  increased  to  a  great  degree.  He  did 
not  feel  one  desire  to  ask  or  receive  mercy,  or  the 
least  favour  from  God.  He  never  reflected  on 
the  divine  character,  but  his  heart  rose  in  the 
most  violent  opposition.  *  Whenever,*  said  he^ 
'I  reflect  that  God  is  Almighty,  just  and  holy, 
—  that  I  am  dependant  on  him  —  that  he  can 
and  will  do  with  me  what  he  pleases,  my  heart 
burns  with  rage  and  fury,  and  had  I  power  I 
would  execute  vengeance  upon  the  Almighty.' 
He  then  said  to  a  number  under  religious  im- 
pressions, 'I  have  heard  you  relate  the  feelings 
of  your  hearts,  and  you  appear  to  have  some 
sense  of  your  wickedness;  but  if  enmity  of  heart 
against  God  is  wickedness,  and  that  it  is  I  am 
fully  convinced,  though  T  wish  to  believe  the 
contrary,  your  present  sense  is  nothing  compared 
with  the  fountain  of  iniquity  within  I  know  if 
all  men's  hearts  are  alike  you  would  dethrone 
the  Almighty  if  you  had  power.  Had  I  an  om- 
nipotent arm,  heaven  would  soon  be  stormed, 
and  God  be  cast  headlong  from  his  throne.' 
'I  have  no  peace,'  said  he,  'day  or  night,  my 
torment  is  as  c^reat  seemingly  as  1  can  endure. 


THE  INWAIU)  MISERY  OF  THE  LOST.  301 

God  is  constantly  in  my  view,  and  my  heart  is 
constantly  burning  with  rage  and  fury/  His 
eyes,  his  countenance,  his  air  expressed  the  same 
feelings  with  his  words.  Nothing  said  availed 
any  thing  unless  to  increase  his  rage  and  enmity. 
"  He  had/'  says  the  writer,  "  as  it  appeared  to  me, 
the  most  clear  and  lively  sense  of  the  wickedness 
of  the  human  heart  —  of  the  divine  character  — 
of  the  creature's  dependence  —  and  the  nature  of 
future  torments,  of  any  person  with  whom  I  was 
ever  acquainted.  His  distress  was  sometimes  so 
great,  that  he  would  lie  down  and  roll  upon  the 
floor;  groan  like  a  man  exercised  with  excrucia- 
ting pain ;  and  cry,  '  O !  that  I  could  banish 
from  my  mind,  all  thoughts  of  God  for  ever  and 
ever !'  At  one  time  he  travelled  barefoot  in  the 
night,  twelve  miles  in  a  deep  snow ;  and  gave 
as  a  reason  for  his  conduct,  that  bodily  pain  was 
the  only  means,  by  which  he  could  divert  his 
mind  from  those  objects  which  gave  him  greater 
distress ;  he  therefore  did  it  to  mitigate  his  dis- 
tress." Oh  doleful  condition !  Oh  miserable 
end  of  a  life  of  sin,  if  this  were  all  its  misery ! 
but  as  the  happiness  of  saints  is  never  perfected 
on  earth,  so  there  is  no  reason  for  believing,  that 
even  this  dreadful  wretchedness  is  at  all  to  be 
compared  with  the  miseries  of  the  lost.  Words 
cannot  describe,  nor  imagination  ever  conceive, 
what  will  be  the  remorse  of  such  a  soul.  Then 
will  the  sinner  discern  for  what  he  lost  the  fair 
inheritance  of  heaven  ;  and  for  what  poor  trifles 
he  sunk  his  soul  to  hell.  Then  will  he  know 
what  base  pleasures  of  a  moment,  he  preferred 
to  eternal  life  and  eternal  glory.  Oh  how  will  it 
wound  his  soul,  to  think  of  grace  refused,  and 
Christ  neglected  !     Oh,  while  he  blasphemes  his 


302  THE  SINNER'S  LATE  REMORSE. 

God,  how  will  he  curse  his  own  self-destroying 
folly,  in  choosing  the  way  to  hell  instead  of  that 
to  heaven,  and  sin  instead  of  religion !  Oh  how 
bitter  now  will  be  the  remembrance  of  sabbaths 
wasted  !  of  mercy  rejected  !  of  the  calls  to  which 
he  would  not  hearken,  and  the  admonitions  he 
would  not  regard  !  "  Is  this  the  hell,"  may  the 
unhappy  creature  say,  "  that  I  was  choosing 
when  I  turned  a  deaf  ear  to  the  advice  of  God ! 
Is  this  the  fruit  of  my  fancied  wisdom  !  and  this 
eternal  flame,  the  end  of  all  my  pleasures !  Is 
even  this  damnation  my  own  choice  ?  Ah  !  why 
have  some  whom  I  once  knew  risen  to  glory  ! 
They  were  not  born  the  heirs  of  heaven  any  more 
than  I.  Like  me  they  tvere  the  children  of 
wrath.  Why  are  they  admitted  and  I  shut  out ! 
Why  are  they  happy  and  I  miserable !  They 
in  heaven  and  I  in  hell !  Ah  !  they  listened  to 
the  Saviour's  voice,  and  I  hearkened  not.  They 
turned  to  God,  and  I  refused  to  turn.  They 
were  wise,  and  I  distracted;  now  they  are  blest, 
and  T  undone.  Wretched  creature  !  and  have  1 
sold  my  soul  for  a  moment's  base  delight? 
Have  I  valued  eternal  glories  at  so  little  a  price  ? 
Have  I  preferred  the  world  and  the  devil  to  a 
compassionate  Saviour  and  a  gracious  God  ? 
Alas !  1  have.  Woe  is  me  !  All  is  lost !  My 
soul  is  lost !  and  damnation  with  all  its  horrors, 
must  be  mine  to  all  eternity." 

§  8.  Eternity,  Eternity!  this  completes  the 
sinner's  misery.  O  young  sinner,  if  once  you 
sink  to  hell  it  will  make  even  hell  itself  more 
horrid,  to  think  that  you  must  be  for  ever  there. 
*'  The  intolerableness,"  says  one,  "  of  your  pain 
and  torment,  will  make  every  day  seem  an  age, 
and  every  year  as  long  as  eternity ;  and  yet  you 


ETERNITY.  303 

must  lie  there  an  eternity  of  these  long  years." 
Had  a  lost  soul  in  hell  but  the  faintest  hope  of 
deliverance,  though  at  the  end  of  as  many  mil- 
lions of  ages  as  there  are  drops  in  the  sea,  hell 
would  lose  half  its  horrors.  But  now,  alas ! 
eternity,  which  might  have  been  the  measure  of 
their  joys,  will  be  the  only  measure  of  their  tor- 
ments. There  the  fire  never  shall  be  quenched. 
Could  a  lost  soul  shed  but  one  tear,  once 
in  ten  thousand  years,  and  do  this  till  a  sea 
as  vast,  as  all  the  seas  on  earth  together,  were 
filled  with  tears,  all  its  suflferings,  in  that  long, 
long  period,  would  be  but  the  beginning  of  eter- 
nal misery.  All  those  millions  of  years  of 
wretchedness,  would  bring  the  unhappy  soul  no 
nearer  to  an  end  of  its  torments,  than  one  poor 
fleeting  hour.  Oh  infinitely  miserable  creatures  ! 
that  when  millions  of  years  of  sorrow  are  past, 
can  only  say,  "These  flames  again,  these  tor* 
tures  again ;"  and  when  millions  more  have 
flown,  will  still  find  their  miseries  beginning ; 
and  for  ever  see  an  eternity  of  misery  still  before 
them.  Were  these  sorrows  to  be  borne,  only  for 
the  most  numerous  course  of  ages,  they  would 
be  more  supportable ;  every  hour  of  misery 
would  then  bring  on  an  end  of  all  misery  ;  and  of 
the  most  deeply  undone  sinner  it  might  be  said, 
that  the  time  would  come,  when  devils  should 
cease  from  tormenting,  and  the  unhappy  should 
be  at  rest.  Yet,  O  eternity !  that  joyful  or 
dreadful  word  forbids  the  hope.  Oh  pitiable 
folly  of  unhappy  men,  wretched  madness  of 
miserable  sinners  I  so  wilfully  to  refuse  a  Sa- 
viour's grace,  and  so  obstinately  to  plunge  into 
perdition.  And,  O  my  young  friend  !  is  not 
this  yours  ?    If  it  is,  these  sorrows  will  soon  be 


304  ETERNITY. 

yours.  You  may  forget  how  fast  eternity  comes, 
but  will  never  forget  how  slow  it  g-oes.  Do  you 
not  pity  those,  who  by  one  wrong  step  in  youth, 
entail  on  themselves  misfortune  and  sorrow  for 
life?  but  oh,  how  are  you  to  be  pitied  who  in 
this  short  life  are  ruining  an  endless  one.  In 
this  little  inch  of  time,  you  are  bringing  a  heavy 
and  immoveable  curse  on  a  whole  eternity.  You 
are  doing  the  worst  mischief  to  your  own  soul 
that  hell  can  wish;  and  worse  than  a  united 
hell  could  do.  Satan  may  tempt  you  to  slight 
salvation  ;  but  he  cannot  make  you  do  it.  Oh 
will  you  make  light  of  Jesus  still  ^  and  still  re- 
fuse your  heart  to  him  ?  Oh  if  yv^u  do  ;  alas  for 
you,  that  ever  you  were  born  !  for  when  your 
future  wretchedness  has  lasted  as  many  millions 
of  miserable  years  as  there  are  sands  on  the  sea- 
shore, it  will  be  but  beginning  ;  and  when  it  has 
continued  as  many  more  it  will  be  no  nearer  end- 
ing. A  head-ache,  or  a  tooth-ache,  or  a  burn- 
ing fever,  for  one  night  is  painful ;  but  what  is 
this  to  a  painful  eternity  !  How  slowly  go  your 
hours  w  hen  kept  sleepless  with  pain  !  how  long 
they  seem,  while  you  count  hour  after  hour,  in 
sad  succession,  and  wish  the  morning  to  appear! 
but  there  is  no  easy  morning  to  follow  the  night 
of  hell  How  slowly  will  go  a  sad  eternity  there, 
when  no  hope  of  an  end  appears!  A\  hat  life 
of  sinful  pleasure  and  neglect  of  Christ  can  ev- 
er make  amends  for  this !  How  short  is  the 
trifling,  and  how  long  the  sorrow  !  How  short 
the  pleasure,  and  how  long  the  pain  !  How  short 
the  momentary  satisfaction,  and  how  long  the 
dreadful  punishment !  The  Christian,  when  he 
looks  around,  may  mourn  to  think  what  will  be 
their  lot  in  eternity,  whom  he  sees  so  careless 


MOTIVE  FOR  EARLY  PIETY.  305 

of  eternity  now.  "These  poor  creatures,"  he 
may  often  have  to  say,  "  unless  they  repent  of 
their  sins,  will  be  lamenting  the  sinful  delights 
of  to-day,  ten  thousand  ages  hence  ;  for  eterni- 
ty is  theirs."  O  my  young  friend,  could  you 
now  look  into  that  fliiming  prison,  whose  terrors 
no  tongue  can  express;  could  you  see  the  liv- 
id flume,  the  darkness  visible ;  could  you  be- 
hold those  who  were  once  angels  changed  in- 
to devils ;  and  the  immortal  spirits,  that  might 
have  reached  heaven,  now  weltering  in  the  lake 
of  fire ;  could  you  see  this,  you  would  behold 
what  you,  even  you,  must  see  ere  long,  unless 
you  seek  that  grace  which  leads  to  glory.  Could 
you  see  this,  it  might  then  be  said  to  you,  "Hi- 
ther tend  the  paths  of  transgression.  Hither  a 
youth,  spent  in  folly  and  vanity,  has  conducted 
many  ;  here  end  the  pleasures  of  sin."  O,  flee 
from  destruction ;  flee  from  the  tempter ;  flee 
from  all  that  would  charm  you  to  neglect  your 
God,  for  such  charms  allure  to  hell. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

THE  YOUNG  READER   ENTREATED  TO   MAKE    HIS 
LASTING  CHOICE. 

§  1.  Tt  was  the  blessed  resolution  of  Joshua, 
that  whatever  others  did,  he  would  serve  the 
Lord ;  a  resolution  made  more  than  three  thou- 
sand years  ago,  but  which  doubtless  yields  him 
satisfaction  even  to  the  present  hour.  And  now 
you  have  read  thus  far  in  this  little  volume,  what 
is  your  decision  ?  I  have  endeavoured  to  set  be- 
fore you  some  of  the  pleasing,  and  some  of  the 
dreadful  motives  which  urge  vou  to  embrace  the 


306  SCRIPTURAL  MARKS 

gospel  of  the  Lord.  Yet  think  not  that  the  half, 
or  even  the  thousandth  part  has  been  told.  Faint 
is  the  representation  here  attempted  of  the  love 
of  Christ;  the  worth  of  the  soul ;  the  joys  of  hea- 
ven ;  or  the  terrors  of  hell.  Those  awful  reali- 
ties, in  solemnity  and  importance,  more  exceed 
the  account  here  given  of  them,  than  a  thunder- 
clap exceeds  the  laintesl  whisper ;  or  than  the 
noon-day  sun  outshines  one  glimmering  spark. 
^Vhat  then  is  your  decision  ?  Have  you  chosen  ? 
or  will  you  choose  the  way  of  life  ?  Perhaps  you 
know  that  you  have  not ;  or  perhaps  you  scarce- 
ly know  whether  you  are  in  the  way  of  life  or 
not.  If  this  be  the  case,  examine  yourself  by  a 
few  plain  scriptural  marks ;  and  try  your  state, 
before  it  be  tried  by  the  Eternal  Judge. 

§  2.  —  1.  They  who  are  the  willing  slaves  of 
their  sins,  are  most  certainly  in  the  way  to  des- 
truction. "  Know  ye  not,  that  to  whom  ye  yield 
yourselves  servants  to  obey,  his  servants  ye  are 
to  whom  ye  obey  ;  w hether  of  sin  unto  death,  or 
of  obedience  unto  righteousness?"  "The  works 
of  the  flesh  are  manifest ;  which  are  these  :  Adul- 
tery, fornication,  uncleanness,  lasciviousness, 
idolatry,  witchcraft,  hatred,  variance,  emulations, 
wrath,  strife,  seditions,  heresies,  envyings,  mur- 
ders, drunkenness,  revellings,  and  such  like  ;  they 
which  do  such  things  shall  not  inherit  the  king- 
dom of  God."  *'  Let  no  man  deceive  you  with 
vain  words ;  for  because  of  these  things  cometh 
the  wraih  of  God  upon  the  children  of  disobedi- 
ence."   "He  that  committeth  sin,  is  of  the  devil." 

2.  They  who  indulge  envy,  hatred,  malice,  or 
any  malevolent  passion,  are  most  surely  in  the 

ay  to  hell.     "  If  ye  forgive  not  men  their  tres- 

Rom.  vi.  16.    Gal.  v.  19,  21.    Ejihei,.  v.  6.    IJohn,  iii,  8. 


FOR  SELF-EXAMINATION.  307 

passes,  neither  will  your  Father  forgive  your  tres- 
passes." He  that  loveth  not  his  brother  abideth 
in  death.  Whosoever  hateth  his  brother  is  a 
murderer ;  and  ye  know  that  no  murderer  hath 
eternal  life  abiding  in  him."  "If  a  man  say,  I 
love  God,  and  hateth  his  brother,  he  is  a  liar." 

3.  They  whose  lives  may  be  moral,  but  who 
indulge  a  careless  unconcern  about  salvation,  who 
are  thoughtful  about  this  world,  but  thoughUess 
about  the  next,  are  most  certainly  hastening  to 
hell.  "  How  shall  we  escape,  if  we  neglect  so 
great  salvation."  "  See  that  ye  refuse  not  him 
that  speaketh.  For  if  they  escaped  not  who  re- 
fused him  that  spake  on  earth,  much  more  shall 
not  we  escape,  if  we  turn  away  from  him  that 
speaketh  from  heaven."  "  A  certain  man  made 
a  great  supper,  and  bade  many ;  and  ent  his  ser- 
vant at  supper  time  to  say  to  them  th  t  were  bid- 
den. Come,  for  all  things  are  now  r*  ady.  But 
they  made  light  of  it,  and  went  their  v  ays,  one  to 
his  farm,  and  another  to  his  merchai  dise  :  And 
they  all  vviih  one  consent,  began  to  make  excuse. 
I  say  unto  you,  that  none  of  those  that  were  bid- 
den shall  taste  of  my  supper.  For  many  are 
called,  but  few  are  chosen." 

4.  They  who  are  in  the  way  to  heaven,  have 
been  brought  to  see  and  feel  the  evil  and  sinful- 
ness of  sin,  and  have  been  brought  to  true  repen- 
tance; without  which  no  one  can  be  saved. 
"Except  ye  repent,  ye  shall  all  likewise  perish." 
"  Thus  saith  the  high  and  lofty  One,  that  inhabi- 
teth  eternity,  whose  name  is  Holy ;  I  dwell  in 
the  high  and  holy  place,  with  him  also  that  is  of 
a  contrite  and  humble  spirit,  to  revive  the  spirit 

Matt  vi.  13.    IJohn,  iii.  14,15.     iv.  20.    Heb.  ii.   1  —  3.     xii.  2-;. 
Lu.^e.  xiv.  lo,  Ccc.      Watt.  xxii.  5.  &.e.      Luke,  Xiii.  o. 


308  SCRIPTURAL  MARKS 

of  the  humble,  and  to  revive  the  heart  of  the  con- 
trite ones/*  "The  sacrifices  of  God  are  a  broken 
spirit ;  a  broken  and  contrite  heart,  O  God,  thou 
wilt  not  despise."  "  Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that 
labour  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you 
rest." 

5.  They  who  are  in  the  way  to  heaven,  have 
been  led  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  for  salvation. 
"  A  man  is  not  justified  by  the  works  of  the  law, 
but  by  the  faith  of  Jesus  Christ."  "Blessed  be 
the  God  and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
who  hath  blessed  us  with  all  spiritual  blessings 
in  heavenly  places  in  Christ;  He  hath  made  us 
accepted  in  the  Beloved."  "Who  his  own  self 
bare  our  sins  in  his  own  body  on  the  tree,  that 
we,  being  dead  to  sins,  should  live  unto  righte- 
ousness ;  by  whose  stripes  ye  were  healed.  For 
ye  were  as  sheep  going  astray  ;  but  are  now  re- 
turned unto  the  Shepherd  and  Bishop  of  your 
souls." 

6.  They  who  are  in  the  way  to  heaven  have 
such  a  value  for  the  Lord  Jesus,  that  they  prefer 
him  to  the  whole  world ;  and  they  who  would  not 
part  with  every  thing,  and  even  life  itself,  for 
Christ's  sake,  cannot  be  his  disciples.  This  truth 
is  most  certainly  taught  in  Scripture,  and  is  so 
decisive  a  mark  of  our  real  state,  that  I  beg  your 
particular  attention  to  it.  "What  things  were 
gain  to  me,  those  I  counted  Joss  for  Christ.  I 
have  suffered  the  loss  of  all  thmgs,  and  do  count 
them  but  dung  that  I  may  win  Christ."  "Unto 
you  therefore  which  believe  he  is  precious." 
"Lord,  thou  knovvest  all  things,  thou  knowest 
that  I  love  thee.''     "  Whom  having  not  seen  ye 

Is.  Ivii.  .5.      Ps.  li.  17.      Matt.  xi.  28.      Gal.  ii.  16.     E  phes.  i.  3. 
J  ret.  ii.  21.    Phil.  iii.  7,     1  Pet.  ii.  7.    John,  xxi.  17.     1  Pet.  i.  1. 


roR  self-exa:viination.  309 

love."  ''He  that  loveth  father  or  mother  more 
than  me  is  not  worthy  of  me  ;  and  he  that  loveth 
son  or  daug^hter  more  than  me,  is  not  worthy  of 
me.  And  he  that  taketh  not  his  cross,  and  fol- 
loweth  after  me,  is  not  worthy  of  me.  Whoso- 
ever doth  not  bear  his  cross,  and  come  after  me, 
cannot  be  my  disciple.''  "  Whosoever  he  be  of 
you  that  forsaketh  not  all  that  be  hath,  he  cannot 
be  my  disciple."  "  If  any  man  love  not  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  let  him  be  Anathema  Maranatha." 

7.  They  who  are  in  the  way  to  heaven  set  their 
affections  on  things  above ;  and  they,  whose  af- 
fections are  not  fixed  on  heavenly  things,  what- 
ever their  profession  may  be,  have  no  true  reli- 
gion. "Lay  not  up  for  yourselves  treasures 
upon  earth  :  But  lay  up  for  yourselves  treasures 
in  heaven ;  For  where  your  treasure  is,  there 
will  your  heart  be  also."  "  If  ye  then  be  risen 
with  Christ,  seek  those  things  which  are  above." 
Set  your  affections  on  things  above,  and  not  on 
things  on  the  earth."  "  Here  have  we  no  continu- 
ing city,  but  we  seek  one  to  come."  "  We  walk 
by  faith,  not  by  sight."  "  W^e  look  not  at  the 
things  which  are  seen,  but  at  the  things  which 
are  not  seen ;  for  the  things  which  are  seen  are 
temporal ;  but  the  things  which  are  not  seen  are 
eternal."  "  Many  walk,  of  whom  I  have  told 
you  often,  and  now  tell  you  even  we<ping,  that 
they  are  the  enemies  of  the  cross  of  Christ,  whose 
end  is  destruction  —  who  mind  earthly  things. 
Our  conversation  is  in  heaven ;  from  whence  also 
we  look  for  the  Saviour,  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 

8.  They  who  are  in  the  way  to  heaven,  mani- 
fest their  faith  in  Christ,  by  lives  of  holiness. 

xMattx.  37.  Luke,  xiv.  27.  1  Cor.  xvi.  22.   Matt.  vi.  19.  Col.  iii.  1.2. 
Heb.  xiii.  14.    2  Cor.  v  7     iv.  18.    Phil.  iii.  Id,  &c. 


310  MARKS  OF   PIETY 

They  resist  sin ;  they  watch  and  pray ;  they  stu- 
dy and  endeavour  to  be  like  their  Lord;  and 
they  who  are  careless  of  leading  holy  lives  are 
perishinor  in  sin.  "  In  Jesus  Christ  neither  cir- 
cumcision availeth  any  thing,  nor  uncircumci- 
sion  ;  but  faith  which  worketh  by  love/*  "  Faith, 
if  it  hath  not  works,  is  dead,  being  alone."  "Fol- 
low peace  with  all  men,  and  holiness,  without 
which  no  man  shall  see  the  Lord."  "Being 
made  free  from  sin,  and  become  servants  to  God, 
ye  have  your  fruit  unto  holiness ;  and  the  end, 
everlasting  life."  "  In  this  the  children  of  God. 
are  manifest,  and  the  children  of  the  devil ;  who- 
soever doeth  not  righteousness,  is  not  of  God, 
neither  he  that  loveth  not  his  brother."  "  Mor- 
tify therefore  your  members  which  are  upon  the 
earth."  "  Take  ye  heed,  watch  and  pray.  I  say 
unto  all,  watch."  "  Christ  suffered  for  us,  leav- 
ing us  an  example  that  we  should  follow  his 
steps."  "If  ye  live  after  the  flesh,  ye  shall  die ; 
but  if  ye  through  the  Spirit  do  mortify  the  deeds 
of  the  body,  ye  shall  live."  "Hereby  we  do 
know  that  we  know  him,  if  we  keep  his  com- 
mandments. He  that  saith,  I  know  him,  and 
keepeth  not  his  commandments,  is  a  liar,  and 
the  truth  is  not  in  him." 

§  3  Do  any  of  the  former  ot  these  few  plain 
marks  show  you  to  be  yet  in  your  sins?  or  do 
the  latter  appear  m  you  and  mark  you  as  a  child 
of  God  ?  Have  you  been  humbled  before  God 
for  your  sins  ?  Have  you  fled  to  Christ  for 
righteousness  and  life?  Have  you  learned  to 
esteem  Jesus  and  salvation  above  all  earthly 
good  ?    Would  you  sooner  die  for  him,  than  live 

Gal.  V.  6.  Jam.  ii.  17.  Heb.  xii.  14.  Rom.  vi.  22  1  John,  iii.  10. 
Col.  iii.  .3.    Mark,  xiii.  33.    1  Pet.  ii.  21.    Rom.  viii.  13.  1  JobD,ii.3. 


QUESTIONS  TO  THE  READER       311 

without  him  ?  Do  you  choose  heavenly  things 
in  preference  to  earthly  •*  and  is  it  the  chief  de- 
sire of  your  heart,  and  the  main  concern  of  your 
life,  to  live  as  you  would  wish  to  die?  Multi- 
tudes go  much  further  in  piety,  than  all  this,  but 
if  these  marks  of  your  possessing  religion  be 
wanting,  be  assured,  on  God's  authority,  that 
you  are  no  more  than  almost  a  Christian  at  the 
best ;  and  far  from  happiness  and  heaven.  Can 
you,  when  you  look  back  on  life,  if  unable  to  tell 
the  time  when  you  were  first  awakened,  yet  say. 
One  thing  I  know,  that  ivhereas  I  ivas  blind,  now  I 
see !  Can  you  see  that  you  have,  from  your 
heart,  devoted  yourself  to  God  ?  that  you  have 
seriously  and  deliberately,  chosen  him  as  your 
God,  and  Christ  as  your  Saviour?  If  you  dis- 
cern nothing  of  this  kind,  depend  upon  it,  the 
reason  is  that  you  are  as  yet  perishing  in  your 
sins  Transactions  between  God  and  the  soul, 
of  so  much  importance  as  these,  cannot  possibly 
have  taken  place  without  your  notice  and  remem- 
biance  When  any  one  has  been  brought  out  of 
darkness  into  light,  does  he  not  know  it  ?  When 
a  servant  has  changed  masters,  is  he  not  aware 
ol  the  change  ?  and  if  he  forgets  the  day,  yet  he 
remembers  that  such  a  change  has  taken  place; 
and  if  you  had  changed  the  service  of  the  world 
and  sin,  for  that  of  God  and  Christ,  would  you 
not  know  that  you  had  done  soP  Alas  you  can- 
not have  a  plainer  proof,  that  you  are  in  your 
sins,  than  having  no  knowledge  of  any  alteration 
of  this  kind  in  your  views  and  feelings.  But 
should  I  leave  you  thus  ?  God  forbid  !  I  be- 
seech you  to  be  reconciled  to  God.  I  beseech 
you  to  choose  the  way  of  life. 

§  4.  Youth  is  your  choosing  time.    The  years 


312      YOUTH  THE  TIME  FOR  CHOOSING  RELIGJON. 

between  fifteen  and  twenty-five  are  an  awfully 
important  season.  What  you  are  at  the  end  of 
that  period,  you  will  probably  be  for  ever.  That 
laborious  and  useful  minister,  Doddridge,  not 
many  years  before  his  death,  observed,  that  by 
far  the  greater  part  of  those  who  had  been  admit- 
ted to  communion  in  the  church  under  his  care, 
were,  as  he  apprehended,  under  twenty-four  years 
of  age  ;  and  that  of  those  who  had  been  admit- 
ted later,  several  were  brought  to  religion  in  their 
much  earlier  years.  Another  minister,  who  la- 
boured for  nearly  forty  years,  and  under  whose 
ministry  it  has  been  supposed,  a  thousand  per- 
sons were  converted,  is  stated  to  have  observed, 
that  he  never  knew  one  person,  who  sat  under 
the  preaching  of  the  gospel  till  his  thirtieth  year 
without  embracing  religion,  that  ever  embraced 
it  afterwards.  So  true  is  it,  my  young  friend, 
that  youth  is  your  choosing  time.  Now  therefore 
decide,  whose  you  will  be  in  this  world,  and 
whose  you  will  be  for  ever.  Behold  life  and  death 
are  before  you.  For  eternity  you  have  to  make 
your  choice.  You  have  to  decide  whether  you 
will  be  a  child  of  God,  or  a  slave  of  the  devil ;  an 
inhabitant  of  heaven,  or  an  out-cast  in  hell. 
Your  early  days  are  days  for  beginning  to  be 
happy;  for  securing  happiness  that  will  last 
for  ever ;  and  can  you  do  this  too  soon  ?  If  you 
would  possess  heaven,  seek  it  now. 

§  5.  By  the  infinite  worth  of  religion,  I  be- 
seech you  make  your  choice.  More  than  a  thou- 
sand lives  depend  upon  it,  even  a  whole  eterni- 
ty. All  that  is  deemed  most  great,  and  most  im- 
portant, all  about  which  the  wise  debate,  and  the 
noble  contend,  all  for  which  nations  war,  and  ar- 


THE  READER  ENTREATED  TO  CHOOSE.        313 

mies  die,  is  as  worthless  as  a  feather,  compared 
with  the  blessings  of  the  gospel. 

By  all  the  joys  and  glories  of  heaven,  I  be- 
seech you,  embrace  early  relij^-ion.  If  you  wish 
ever  to  enter  those  blessed  abodes  ;  if  you  would 
ever  obtain  a  crown  of  life  eternal ;  make  this 
your  choice.  You  may  obtain  everlasting  glo- 
ries; you  may  enter  heavenly  rest;  and  when 
this  poor  vain  life  shall  have  passed,  dwell  in  the 
presence  of  God  and  the  Lamb;  you  may  do 
this,  and  will  you  not?  Are  you  bent  on  shut- 
ting your  own  soul  out  of  happiness  ?  The 
crown  of  glory,  peace  and  blessedness,  joy  and 
triumph,  the  sweet  society  of  angels,  and  the  love 
of  God,  all  may  be  yours ;  and  will  you  refuse 
them  all  ?  By  these  and  ten  thousand  heavenly 
blessings,  I  entreat  you,  seek  God  as  your  God. 
Then  welcome  death  !  welcome  eternity  I  wel- 
come all  the  scenes  beyond  the  grave  !  welcome 
the  great  judgment !  welcome  heaven ! 

By  the  care  and  kindness  of  others  for  you,  I 
beseech  you  to  turn  ;o  religion.  Shall  God  en- 
treat you  in  vain  to  be  reconciled  to  him  ?  Shall 
Jesus  sue  in  vain  ?  Shall  the  Spirit  strive  in 
vain  ?  Shall  all  who  labour  for  your  good,  labour 
in  vain  ?     O,  forbid  it,  and  be  wise  for  eternity. 

By  all  the  solemnities  of  death,  1  beseech  you 
choose  the  way  of  life.  Think  of  your  dying 
hour,  of  your  physician  saying.  There  is  no  hope ; 
of  your  friends  bidding  you  a  last  farewell,  of 
your  pulse  stopping,  your  voice  failing,  your  eyes 
closing,  and  your  soul  taking  its  everlasting 
flight.  And  will  you  for  the  pTtasures  of  a  mo- 
ment undo  that  immortal  soul  ?  Think  of  your- 
self stretched  lifeless  in  a  coffin  ;  of  your  grave 
opened;  of  your  funeral  over;  of  your  body  the 


314  THE  REA.DER  ENTREATED 

prey  of  worms  and  corruption ;  and  in  a  little 
while  of  nothing  remaining  of  you  in  this  world 
but  a  heap  of  dust ;  O  think  of  these  things,  and 
by  these  be  persuaded,  to  make  that  choice  now, 
which  will  yield  you  satisfaction  when  you  die. 

By  the  vanity  of  this  world,  I  beseech  you  to 
choose  that  Saviour,  who  would  guide  you  to  a 
better.  When  you  see  the  remains  of  skeletons, 
and  of  mouldered  coffins,  thrown  up  in  a  grave- 
yard to  make  room  for  another  who  is  going  to 
the  same  long  home,  think  what  is  the  value  of 
this  world  to  them,  that  lay  in  those  coffins  once. 
Its  worth  to  them  is  its  worth  to  you.  You  must 
die  though  they  are  dead.  You  must  need  a 
coffin  soon,  though  they  have  done  needing  one. 
How  small  is  the  difference !  They  have  met 
their  God  ;  and  you  will  shortiy  meet  him ! 
They  are  in  heaven  or  hell ;  and  you  upon  the 
edge  of  one  or  the  other.  In  this  situation,  for  so 
vain  a  world  slight  not,  I  entreat  you,  your  im- 
mortal soul. 

By  all  the  eternal  Father's  kindness,  I  beseech 
you  yield  your  heart  to  him.  By  his  goodness 
in  giving  you  life ;  by  his  kindness  in  crowning 
your  days  with  comforts;  by  his  patience  in 
bearing  with  you  when  he  might  justly  have 
spurned  you  to  hell ;  by  his  pity  in  offering  you 
salvation  ;  by  his  love  in  giving  his  beloved  Son 
to  death  for  your  transgressions,  and  frowning 
on  him  that  he  might  for  ever  smile  on  you  ;  by 
all  this,  and  by  all  that  goodness  of  the  Lord's, 
which,  if  you  had  ten  thousand  hearts,  would 
claim  them  all ;  I  beseech  you  give  him  that  one 
poor  heart  you  have.  As  you  would  not  be  base- 
ly ungrateful,  and  infernally  wicked  to  your  best 
friend,  I  entreat  you  no  longer  yield  to  vanity, 


TO  FMRRACETHE  GOSPEL.  3 15 

sin,  and  Satan,  that  health  and  youth  which  God 
demands. 

By  all  the  compassion  and  love  of  the  Son  of 
God,  I  beseech  you  make  his  service  your  sin- 
cere and  lasting  choice.  By  his  deep  humilia- 
tion and  poverty  ;  by  his  poor  manger  and  his 
life  of  sorrows  ;  by  his  tears  and  sighs  for  wretch- 
ed men  ;  by  his  bloody  agony,  and  his  thorny 
crown  ;  by  his  bitter  cross,  and  all  his  sufferings 
there ;  I  entreat  you  give  him  yourself.  Love 
like  his  demands  your  all  for  ever.  By  his  en- 
during all  this,  to  save  you  from  the  dreadful 
pains  of  eternal  death,  I  entreat  you  defeat  not 
his  gracious  designs.  As  you  would  ever  have 
an  interest  in  his  love,  as  you  would  have  him  re- 
ceive you  to  his  eternal  abode,  O  receive  him  now 
as  your  Saviour,  your  Lord,  your  all. 

By  every  feeling  of  pity  for  yourself,  and  com- 
passion for  your  own  soul,  I  beseech  you  embrace 
early  religion.  Will  you  not  have  pity  on  your 
own  soul,  that  deathless  soul,  which  at  another 
day,  you  will  want  God  and  Christ  to  pity  ?  You 
love  your  body,  would  you  hate  your  soul  ?  You 
love  to  adorn  and  preserve  the  feeble  building  of 
clay;  would  you  damn  the  immortal  spirit  that 
dwells  within  it?  You  love  ease,  O,  pity  your- 
self, and  rush  not  forward  to  eternal  pain !  You 
love  ha])piness,  O,  be  wise,  and  choose  eternal 
happiness  !  As  you  would  not  have  all  your  hopes 
end  in  despair ;  as  you  would  not  have  all  your 
pleasures  end  in  sorrow  ;  as  ever  you  w  ould  find 
pity  at  the  bar  of  God,  and  mercy  at  his  hands, 
pity  yourself,  and  make  his  love  your  po'Von. 

If  you  would  not  abuse  the  grace  of  God  to 
your  own  destruction;  if  you  would  not  be  die 
wilful  murderer  of  your  own  soul ;  I  beseech 


316  THE  READER  ENTREATED 

you  embrace  the  gospel.  How  hard  you  would 
think  it,  if  God  had  decreed  your  everlasting 
misery,  and  irrevocably  shut  you  out  of  heaven ; 
and  now,  when  he  offers  you  life  and  salvation, 
would  you  shut  out  yourself?  Would  you  be 
so  cruel  a  self-murderer  as  to  expose  your  own 
soul  to  the  death  that  never  never  dies  ?  for  that 
is  the  destruction  which  the  soul  incurs.  You 
will,  you  must  do  this,  if  you  do  not  turn  to  the 
Lord.  Could  some  hardened  creature  ask  you 
to  sign  a  declaration,  that  you  hated  religion  ; 
that  you  determined  to  have  nothing  to  do  with 
God  or  the  Redeemer;  that  as  for  heaven  they 
were  welcome  to  it,  who  thought  it  worth  their 
care  ;  and  as  for  hell  you  cared  nought  for  it ; — 
Could  you  be  asked  to  sign  such  a  declaration, 
would  not  you  start  back  with  horror  at  the  pro- 
posal of  doing  so  ?  Or  had  some  one  the  power 
of  offering  you  the  whole  world,  and  of  saying, 
"  I  will  give  you  all  the  happiness  of  this  world, 
all  its  wealth  and  all  its  honours,  if  you  will  give 
up  all  hope  of  heaven,  and  engage  when  you  die 
to  dwell  with  the  devil  and  his  angels  through  all 
eternity :"  would  you  not  tremble  at  the  very 
thought  of  accepting  such  an  offer  ?  and  of  be- 
ing your  own  wilful  destroyer  ?  O,  then  do  not 
do  in  reality,  what  you  would  not  do  by  such  an 
agreement.  Most  persons  lose  their  souls  as 
completely  as  if  they  bargained  for  the  loss. 
He  who  lives  careless  of  religion,  says  by  his 
conduct,  "I  choose  hell  for  my  portion,  and  Sa- 
tan  for  my  master."  It  comes  to  the  same  at 
last,  whether  you  profess  that  you  hate  religion, 
or  live  careless  of  the  blessed  Son  of  God.  To 
despise  serious  religion  would  smk  you  to  hell, 
and  thus  make  you  the  murderer  of  your  own 


TO  EMBRACE  THE  GOSPEL.  317 

soul ;  and  to  live  without  embracing  humble  pi- 
ety, and  obeying  the  gospel,  will  do  the  same : 
and  where  in  the  end,  is  the  difference  ? 

By  all  the  sorrows  of  the  ungodly,  be  persua- 
ded to  make  your  instant  choice.  By  all  the  mi- 
sery of  dying  in  despair ;  "  By  all  the  terrors  of 
the.  tomb  ;  by  death  and  hell ;"  I  entreat  you 
yield  your  youth  to  Christ.  By  the  fire  that 
never  shall  be  quenched  ;  by  the  worm  that  nev- 
er dieth  ;  by  the  utter  darkness,  which  shall  nev- 
er be  cheered  with  one  gleam  of  light ;  by  the 
misery  that  shall  never  know  one  moment's  ease ; 
by  all  the  horrors  of  an  eternity  in  hell,  I  be- 
seech, you  flee  trom  the  wrath  to  come  ! 

By  the  eternal  difference  between  those  who 
love  the  Lord,  and  those  who  love  him  not,  I  en- 
treat you  embrace  the  gospel.  All  other  distinc- 
tions will  shortly  vanish  for  ever.  Youth  and  age, 
strength  and  weakness,  will  be  soon  on  a  level  in 
the  grave.  My  young  friend,  when  you  see  a  per- 
son oppressed  with  poverty  and  gloom ;  covered 
with  rags  ;  and  worn  out  with  the  burden  of  four 
score  years,  while  you  feel  vigorous  and  gay, 
young  and  healthy,  you  perhaps  think  with  plea- 
sure, how  different  is  your  lot  from  his.  A  little 
time,  and  that  difference  will  be  over.  It  ^vill  be 
all  over  when  you  meet  your  God  :  health,  and 
youth,  and  vigour,  will  have  fled  away;  nothing 
but  an  interest  in  Jesus  will  then  avail  you.  No 
distinction  will  remain  but  that  which  springs 
from  true  religion  ;  and  that  will  last  for  ever. 
Here  the  difference  between  those  who  love  Christ, 
and  those  who  slight  him,  is  not  most  percepti- 
ble :  but  it  will  be  most  fully  seen  in  the  eternal 
world.  Here  the  religious  and  the  irreligious  meet 
together.     They  dwell  in  the  same  houses;  they 


318  THE  YOUNG  READER  ENTREATED 

engage  in  the  same  business.  In  the  house  of 
God  they  sit  in  the  same  seats,  and  hear  the  same 
truths  ;  but  hereafter  they  will  be  parted  far  asun- 
der. The  last  great  separating  day  is  hastening 
on;  and  then  shall  they  mingle  together  no  more. 
No  more  shall  they  occupy  the  same  seats ;  nor 
dwell  in  the  same  houses ;  nor  pursue  the  same 
employments.  All  this  will  be  for  ever  done 
with  ;  and  a  distance  wide  indeed,  will  part  them 
for  eternity.  O !  as  you  would  then  have  the  dis- 
tinction of  belonging  to  Jesus,  embrace  his  gos- 
pel now  !  As  ever  you  would  share  the  happi- 
ness of  those  who  meet  in  glory,  I  beseech  you 
by  coming  to  Christ,  secure  it  now  !  How  hap- 
pily will  they  meet  there,  who  have  trodden  the 
same  path  of  humble  religion  here  I  How  happily 
will  the  pious  child  meet  his  parents  I  the  faith- 
ful pastor  his  flock !  relations  join  relations 
again  !  and  friends  unite  with  friends  ! 

And  now,  my  young  friend,  life  and  death  are 
set  before  you.  "  I  call  heaven  and  earth  to  re- 
cord against  you,  that  I  have  set  before  you  life 
and  death,  blessing  and  cursing ;  therefore  choose 
life."  The  only  alternative  presented  to  you,  is. 
Religion  and  heaven;  or.  Want  of  Religion  and 
hell.  Which,  O,  which  is  your  choice?  Now 
is  your  choosing  time.  You  must  be  a  saint  or 
a  brute  here,  and  an  angel  or  a  devil  hereafter. 
Perhaps  you  may  never  again  be  invited  to  make 
this  important  choice ;  and  your  decision  this 
day,  may  be  that  by  which  your  eternal  state  will 
be  fixed.  Choose  then,  I  entreat  you,  the  way  of 
life,  if  you  have  not  already  chosen  it.  Peace 
attends  it,  and  happiness  is  at  its  end ;  happiness 
inconceivable,  unutterable,  and  eternal.  And 
will  you  choose  ?  or  hfwe  you  chosen  humble  re- 


TO  EMBRACE  EARLY  RELIGION.  31& 

ligion?  If  you  have,  let  me  take  you  by  the 
hand,  and  lead  you  into  yonder  fair  and  spacious 
world.  May  I  imagine  that  I  see  you  arrived 
there  ?  or  are  you  determined  never  to  go  thither? 
May  I  imaj^ine  that  I  see  you  before  the  throne 
of  the  Eternal,  adorned  with  the  splendours,  and 
blessed  in  the  raptures  of  heaven  ?  Ah  !  is  it 
but  deception  ?  do  you  still  slight  the  way  that 
leads  a  sinner  to  glory  and  to  God  ?  May  I  ima- 
gine, or  is  that  too  happy  a  supposition,  that  you 
ascribe  your  early  choice  of  the  way  of  life,  to  the 
blessing  of  the  Most  High  on  this  little  volume? 
O,  if  in  any  instance  this  be  the  case,  blessed  be 
God,  who  gave  the  disposition  to  write  it !  and 
blessed  be  the  day  that  saw  it  begun  !  May  T 
imagine,  that  you  look  on  this  as  the  happy 
choosing  day  that  led  you  to  Jesus ;  and  thus  fix- 
ed your  joy  for  an  eternity,  where  days,  and  years, 
and  ages  are  no  more  ?  O  my  brother,  my  sister, 
may  I  fancy  that  I  meet  you  there,  with  your 
great  interests  and  mine  secured  for  ever? 
Blessed  hour  I  blessed  scene !  O,  in  the  pros- 
pect of  it,  let  me  urge  you  to  make  religion  your 
earliest,  only  choice.  It  is  the  best  that  you  can 
make.  Were  you  prevailed  on  this  day  to  obey 
the  gospel,  and  begin  a  life  of  early  piety,  how 
happy  a  day  would  this  be  to  you  !  The  best 
and  happiest  day  of  your  life.  The  day  that  you 
might  look  back  upon  with  most  pleasure,  even 
from  a  death-bed,  and  from  the  etenial  world. 
"Will  you  then,  in  God's  strength,  determine  to 
make  early  religion  your  first  concern?  and  ne- 
ver more  to  refuse  the  Saviour's  grace  ?  If  you 
will,  seek  help  from  God  in  fen  ent  prayer ;  com- 
mit your  soul  to  Jesus ;  and  then  how  happily 
will  vou  ere  long-  enter  endless  blessedness,  when 


320  BLESSINGS  OF   DECIDED  PIETY 

this  vain  and  inconstant  world,  this  deceitful  and 
fleeting  life,  have  passed  away  forever.  Then  how 
happy  will  you  be  a  hundred  years  hence,  when 
others  are  as  busy  about  this  world,  and  you  are 
quite  forgotten  ;  and  your  very  tombstone  hard- 
ly to  be  read  by  passing  travellers.  Then,  in 
what  inconceivable  blessedness  will  your  happy 
spirit  dwell,  long  after  not  "  one  wretched  trace" 
remains  of  the  hand  that  has  written,  or  the  eye 
that  reads. —  Choose  but  religion.  Give  yourself 
to  Christ,  and  life  or  death  will  be  equally  a  pri- 
vilege Your  last  sigh  will  then  be  a  forerunner 
of  eternal  praise;  your  last  pang  of  eternal  rap- 
tures ;  and  the  paleness  of  death  will  be  seen  on 
your  countenance,  but  a  moment  before  the  glo- 
ries of  eternal  life.  Yet  a  few  years,  and  you, 
if  you  know  the  Saviour's  grace,  shall  experience 
a  far  more  transporting  change  than  any  heart 
can  conceive.  O,  could  we  see  what  thirty  or 
forty  years  will  discover,  it  might  then  be  seen 
what  are  the  effects  upon  your  heart,  of  this  little 
book.  It  might  then  be  known  who  chose  the 
happy,  who  the  wretched  part.  Young  as  you 
may  be,  yet  a  few  years  and  this  will  be  known. 
O,  flee  to  Jesus.  Choose  religion.  Then  will 
your  life  be  blessed ;  your  death  happy  ;  your 
eternity  glorious.  Remember  that  this  is  the 
most  important  choice  you  can  ever  be  called  to 
make.  On  this  it  depends  whether  life  shall  be 
a  blessing  or  a  curse; — yourself  an  angel  or  a 
devil  —  God  a  friend  or  an  enemy; — Jesus  a 
kind  Saviour,  or  a  dreadful  Judge; — heaven 
your  home,  or  hell  your  prison; — praise  your 
sweet  delight,  or  cursings  and  blasphemy  your 
dreadful  employment;  —  angels  and  glorified 
saints  your  beloved  associates,  or  devils  and  the 


IMPORTANCE  Ol-   THE  CHOICE.  321 

damned  your  horrid  companions ;  —  Satan  a 
vanquished  enemy,  or  a  horrid  tormentor.  May 
the  God  of  heaven  lead  you  to  seek  your  happi- 
ness in  the  Lord  Jesus  and  himself!  If  you  have 
made  early  religion  your  choice,  may  he  lead 
you  forward  to  the  promised  crown  ;  and  if  you 
are  not  a  partaker  of  that  best  of  blessiuii^s,  even 
now  may  he  soften  your  heart  to  penitence,  and 
direct  you  to  his  ciiicified  Son  ;  and  thus,  at 
length,  bring  you  to  that  blessed  world,  where 
hope  shall  be  exchanged  for  happiness ;  faith  for 
sight ;  grief  for  gladness  ;  danger  for  safety  ; 
death  for  life  ;  and  where,  to  complete  all,  saints 
will  be  for  ever  with  the  Lord. 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

TWENTY  OBJECTIONS  TO  EARLY  PIETY  BRIEFLY 
STATED  AND  ANSWERED. 

Perhaps,  my  young  friend,  you  feel  that  reli- 
gion is  important ;  but  would  be  excused  from 
attending  to  it  at  present.  Perhaps  you  strength- 
en this  disinclination,  by  some  of  those  objections 
to  early  religion  which  abound  in  this  corrupt 
world.  Permit  me  to  enumerate  a  few  of  these, 
and  to  give  them  a  plain  though  serious  answer. 

Objection  1.  I  am  but  young;  I  have  time 
enough  yet ;  I  do  not  mean  to  put  religion  off  for 
ever ;  but  why  should  I  begin  with  it  so  soon  ? 

Answer.  Young  as  you  are,  you  are  not  too 
young  to  die  ;  nor  if  you  die  in  sin,  are  you  too 
young  to  be  lost  for  ever.  Young  as  you  are, 
were  you  to  die  with  only  one  of  your  youthful 
sins  upon  you,  that  one  would  sink  you  to  de- 
struction.    Young  as  you  are,  you  are  not  too 


322  OBJECTIONS  TO  EARLY 

young  to  be  called  to  meet  your  God,  to  stand  at 
his  judgment-bar,  and  to  be  fixed  in  heaven  or 
hell  for  ever.  In  G.  Britain,  alone,  it  is  com- 
puted, that  nearly  seven  thousand  persons  die 
every  week;  numbers  of  these  are  the  young; 
and  while  so  many  graves  are  opening  every  day, 
may  not  one  soon  be  opened  for  you?  Why 
should  you  promise  yourself  that  you  shall  see 
old  age,  when  so  few  comparatively  reach  it  ? 
But  if  you  should,  "  he  that  in  his  youth  reckons 
it  too  early  to  be  converted,  in  his  old  age  may 
find  it  too  late  to  be  saved."  Few,  repent  in  age. 
Who  are  the  irreligious  crowds  that  throng  our 
towns  and  country,  but  those  who  neglect  God 
while  young?  It  is  a  dreadful  fact,  that  few  turn 
to  God  in  age ;  enough  to  guard  the  aged  from 
despair ;  but  so  few  as  to  warn  the  young,  not 
to  expect  to  be  made  partakers  of  grace  and  glo- 
ry, unless  brought  to  Christ  in  youth. 

Obj.  2.  1  see  many,  older  than  myself,  follow- 
ing the  world  ;  why  should  not  I  do  so  too  ? 

Ans.  Because  if  they  choose  destruction,  you 
should  not  choose  it  with  them.  If  they  abuse 
the  mercies  of  God,  and  heap  up  wrath  agamst 
the  day  of  wrath,  you  should  not  do  the  same. 
If  yo'i  saw  some  aged  neighbours  taking  the  way 
that  would  lead  them  to  prison  and  the  gallows, 
you  would  not  say,  "  They  ought  to  know  better 
than  I,  why  should  I  not  follow  them  ?"  And  if 
you  see  hoary-headed  sinners,  that  have  served 
the  devil  all  their  days,  serving  him  still,  why 
then  would  you  make  their  desperate  madness 
a  reason  for  giving  your  youth  to  the  devil? 
God  will  not  inquire  of  you  what  they  did,  but 
what  you  did.  If  your  friends,  if  your  relatives, 
are  all  the  servants  of  sin,  O !  be  ambitious  to  be 


PIETY  ANSWERED.  323 

ihe  first  in  your  family,  that  shall  find  the  way 
to  heaven  Pray  for  them ;  perhaps  some  of 
them  may  follow ;  but  if  they  should  not,  it  is 
better  to  g-o  to  heaven  without  ungodly  relatives, 
than  to  ^o  to  hell  with  them. 

Obj.  3.  Perhaps,  my  young  friend,  such  is  your 
humble  lot  in  life,  that  you  have  to  object, 

I  am  poor,  and  possess  but  little  knowledg-e. 
I  work  hard  all  the  week,  and  if  I  do  not  make 
Sunday  a  day  of  recreation,  I  can  never  take  my 
pleasure.  I  see  too  my  superiors  in  riches  and 
knowledge,  giving  themselves  little  concern  about 
religion,  then  why  should  I  mind  it? 

^ns.  You  should  regard  religion  as  your  chief 
concern,  because  you  are  not  to  follow  the  exam- 
ple of  the  great  and  the  noble,  but  that  of  the 
blessed  Saviour,  who  was  in  this  world  a  man  of 
poverty  and  sorrows.  You  are  told,  in  his  word, 
"  that  not  many  wise  men  after  the  flesh,  not  many 
mighty,  not  many  noble  are  called ;"  and  that  it 
is  "  the  poor"  that  "have  the  gospel  preached  to 
them."  Tl  ey  often  hear  it  gladly,  when  the  rich 
and  great  scorn  and  neglect  it.  And  though  you 
may  have  no  day  for  recreation  except  the  Sab- 
bath, yet  what  will  be  the  end  of  that  pleasure, 
which  is  gained  by  profaning  that  holy  day  ?  It 
will  be  everlasting  bitterness  and  despair.  Is  not 
your  soul  worth  more  than  your  body  ?  and  end- 
less ages  than  a  few  short  sorrowful  years  ?  If 
you  knew  the  pleasures  of  religion,  you  would 
think  "  a  day  in  God's  house  better  than  a  thou- 
sand" days  of  mirth  elsewhere  ;  and  though  you 
may  be  poor  in  this  world,  would  find  that  de- 
light m  prayei  and  communion  with  God,  which 
you  never  found  in  all  your  sinful  sabbath-break- 
m^  pleasures;  and  which  those  of  the  great  and 


324  OBJECTIONS  TO  EARXY 

noble,  that  know  not  God,  never  obtained  from 
all  their  riches  and  honours. 

Obj.  4.  Religion  it  is  true  is  important;  but 
this  is  not  to  me  a  suitable  season  for  following- 
it  :  when  I  have  a  convenient  time  1  intend  to  in- 
quire for  the  ways  of  God. 

jlns.  And  what  time  will  be  more  convenient 
than  the  present  ?  Will  it  be  so  when  the  cares 
and  burdens  of  the  world,  or  perhaps  of  a  young 
and  rising  family,  are  pressing  on  you  ?  Will  it 
be  so,  when  the  pains  of  disease  and  the  lan- 
guors of  sickness  are  overpowering  all  your  fa- 
culties? or  when  the  infirmities  of  age  make  the 
grasshopper  a  burden  ?  Ah  no.  Least  of  all  will 
it  be  so  when  you  come  to  die.  Often  have  I 
heard  th^  sick  and  dying  declare,  that  if  they 
had  not  sought  the  Lord  before,  they  could  not 
have  sousfht  him  then.  But  perhaps  you  think 
that  as  life  advances,  your  appetite  for  sensual 
pleasures  will  grow  less ;  and  that  you  shall  em- 
brace religion  with  less  difficulty  then  than  now. 
Alas !  you  are  dreadfully  deceived.  "  You  might 
as  well  expect  to  drown  a  fish  by  putting  it  into 
water,  as  to  extinguish  sensual  desires  by  follow 
ing  sensual  delights."  If  you  could  scarcely  cure 
a  cold,  would  you  expect  to  cure  it  when  become 
a  confirmed  consumption  ?  If  it  be  hard  for  a 
captive  to  break  a  single  chain,  will  it  be  easy  for 
him  to  escape  when  loaded  with  more  than  dou- 
ble fetters  ?  8o  conversion  is  made  more  diffi- 
cult by  delay.  Think  then  of  no  more  conveni- 
ent time.  None  can  be  more  so ;  all  will  be  less 
so  than  the  present.  Remember,  Felix  said, 
"Go  thy  way  for  this  time,  when  I  have  a 
convenient  season,  I  will  call  for  thee;"  but  that 
convenient    season     never    came,    and  Felix 


PIETY  ANSWERED.  '326 

was  undone.  God  tells  you  of  no  season  more 
convenient  than  the  present.  "  Now,"  says  his 
word,  "  is  the  accepted  time,  behold,  now  is  the 
day  of  salvation." 

Obj.  5.  I  might  attend  to  religion,  but  I  have 
little  leisure,  and  have  much  else  to  attend  to. 

.jlns.  O  my  young  friend !  whatever  else  you 
may  have  to  mind,  the  salvation  of  your  soul 
should  be  your  tirst  concern.  If  you  were  sure 
of  gaining  a  crown  and  a  kingdom  ;  what  would 
this  be  compared  with  gaining  a  crown  of  glory, 
and  an  endless  life  of  blessedness  in  heaven.? 
To  enjoy  this,  and  escape  the  damnation  of  hell, 
is  often  thousand  times  more  consequence  to  you, 
than  to  gain  the  whole  world,  if  you  were  sure  you 
could  do  it.  The  apostle  Paul  counted  all  things 
loss  that  he  might  ivi7i  Christ ;  nor  does  he  now 
repent  of  his  choice.  Would  a  dying  man  say, 
'*  I  have  so  much  else  to  mind,  that  I  cannot 
find  leisure  to  take  the  medicines,  that,  under 
God,  may  raise  me  from  this  bed  of  sickness  ?'* 
Would  a  condemned  criminal  say,  "1  have  so 
much  business  to  attend  to,  that  I  cannot  aind 
time  to  apply  for  my  pardon,  or  to  accept  it  if 
offered  ?"  And  shall  a  perishing  sinner  say,  *•  I 
have  no  leisure  to  escape  from  hell  and  seek  for 
heaven?"  What  will  all  your  studies,  or  la- 
bours, or  cares  come  to  if  your  soul  be  !Ost .? 
YoM  would  think  a  condemned  criminal  dis- 
tracted, who  would  eagerly  attend  lo  other 
things,  and  slight  the  pardon  offered  him,  though 
the  hour  of  execution  might  be  at  tiand.  You 
would  say  to  him,  "  Secure  your  life  first,  then 
you  may  follow  other  concerns  with  comfort." 
But  what  is  the  loss  of  life  compared  with  the 
loss  of  the  soul  P     What  is  the  follv  of  the  man 

10 


326  OBJECTIONS  TO  EARLY 

who  might  trifle  in  view  of  the  gallows,  com-' 
pared  with  his  who  trifles  on  the  edge  of  hell  ? 
Secure  your  soul  first:  Seek  first  the  kingdom 
of  God  and  his  righteousness,  and  all  other 
things  will  be  added  unto  you.  Mind  this  one 
great  business.  Let  that  one  work  be  done,  with- 
out which  you  are  undone  for  ever  ;  and  then 
you  may  comfortably  attend  to  the  other  busi^ 
ness  of  life.  Delay  is  injustice  to  the  God  of 
heaven  ;  and  insulting  treatment  to  his  holy  Ma- 
jesty, to  put  off  attending  to  what  he  enjoins, 
while  you  are  busied  with  mere  worldly  trifles. 
If  ten  thousand  pounds  and  a  fine  estate  were 
offered  you,  would  you  say,  "  I  have  too  much 
else  to  mind,  to  think  of  this  oflfer  now  ?"  And 
when  God  offers  you  Christ,  and  salvation,  and 
heaven,  will  you  neglect  a  Saviour,  and  everlast- 
ing blessings,  for  things,  for  which  you  would 
not  neglect  a  few  hundred  pounds  or  shillings,  if 
offered  by  a  felJow  creature? 

Obj.  6.  T  see  no  need  of  such  strictness ;  and 
cannot  think  it  necessary  to  make  so  much  ado 
to  get  to  heaven. 

Ans.  You  are  by  nature  corrupt  and  blind, 
and  it  is  not  what  you  may  see,  but  what  the 
eternal  God  declares, that  should  be  your  guide. 
Your  Judge  will  not  inquire  at  last  whether  you 
fancied  it  right  to  be  in  earnest  in  seeking  the 
kingdom  of  God,  but  whether  you  listened  to  his 
decisions.  He  says  "  strive  to  enter  in  at  the 
strait  gate  Labour  for  the  meat  which  endur- 
eth  to  everlasting  life."  You  think  probably 
that  a  little  formal  religion  will  be  sufficient,  but 
he  says  to  such,  "'  Thou  hast  a  name  that  thou 
livest  and  art  dead  ;  I  know  thy  works,  that  thou* 
art  neither  cold  nor  hot :  because  thou  art  luke. 


PIETY  ANSWERED.  32^ 

warm,  and  neither  cold  nor  hot,  I  will  spue  thee 
out  of  my  mouth."  If  you  speak  of  making  too 
much  ado  about  religion,  will  you  stand  to  your 
own  words  at  last  ?  Will  you  say  on  your  death- 
bed, that  the  most  prayerful  and  religious  per- 
son that  ever  lived,  was  too  earnest  in  getting  to 
heaven  ?  Do  saints  in  glory,  think  they  made 
too  much  ado  to  get  there  ?  and  that  they  might 
have  reached  it  as  well  with  less  care  and  pains? 
Do  lost  souls  in  hell,  now  think,  as  they  once 
did,  that  heaven  was  not  worth  so  much  care 
and  thought  ?  Do  they  think  you  can  make  too 
much  ado  to  flee  from  the  everlasting  burnings  ? 
O,  could  you  see  that  world,  to  which  you  are 
hastening ;  could  you  know  what  it  is  to  stand 
before  the  eternal  God,  and  hear  your  sentence 
from  his  lips ;  and  could  you  taste  but  for  &ne 
short  hour  the  joys  of  the  blest,  or  the  miseries 
of  the  damned  ;  you  would  think  no  care,  and 
labour,  and  pains,  and  diligence  could  be  enough, 
in  making  your  own  salvation  sure.  Then  if  you 
saw  saints,  as  eminent  as  Paul  himself,  around 
you,  you  might  say  to  them,  "O,  how  slow  is 
your  progress  !  how  formal  your  prayers  I  how 
cold  your  zeal  and  love,  to  what  theirs  should 
be,  who  have  such  an  eternity  before  them  !" 

Ohj.  7.  I  love  the  pleasures  of  the  world;  and 
when  should  I  enjoy  them  except  in  youth !  I 
cannot  give  them  up. 

Ans.  But  has  not  God  declared,  that  living 
in  pleasure  is  being  dead  while  we  live  P  1  Tim. 
5,  D.  What  will  the  end  of  your  delights  be  ? 
The  pleasures  of  the  world  end  in  bitterness  and 
gall.  Often  do  they  leave  a  sting  behind  even 
here,  and  will  sting  the  guilty  soul  with  ever- 
lasting remorse  hereafter.    The  paths  of  worldly 


a28  OBJECTIONS  TO  EARLY 

pleasure  conduct  to  endless  pain.  Remember 
that  unhappy  lover  of  pleasure,  whom  the  Lord 
describes,  in  Luke,  16.  He  loved  the  delights 
of  the  world,  and  had  them  too ;  but  died  and 
awoke  in  hell.  Ah,  dismal  end  of  a  pleasant 
course !  How  short,  how  wretched  is  that  plea- 
sure, which  ends  in  such  bitter  and  eternal  sor- 
row !  And  cannot  you  give  up  the  sinful  de- 
lights of  a  foolish  world  ?  you  must  give  them 
up,  or  must  lose  your  soul.  If  you  will  not 
part  with  them  now,  you  must  at  last  part  with 
them  all,  and  lose  God  and  Christ,  and  heavenly 
^lory  for  them.  If  you  choose  them  as  your 
poition,  remember  you  choose  damnation  with 
them. 

Obj.  8.  I  might  follow  religion  ;  but  it  is  such 
a  melancholy  thing,  that  I  fear  it  would  destroy 
all  the  comfort  of  my  life. 

Ans.  My  young  friend,  what  is  real  religion  ? 
Is  it  not  the  knowledge  of  God  ?  and  the  enjoy- 
ment of  his  love  and  favour  ?  This  constitutes 
the  happiness  of  angels.  And  is  that  which 
makes  them  happy,  a  melancholy  thing  ?  How 
you  condemn  yourself,  and  prove  yourself  to 
have  a  carnal  mind  which  is  enmity  against  God, 
while  you  look  on  his  service  and  love,  as  a  source 
of  gloom  and  dissatisfaction!  But  while  you 
think  religion  melancholy,  it  is  dreadfully  plain 
that  you  are  not  fit  for  the  enjoyment  of  heaven, 
where  every  pleasure  is  religious.  Who  are 
they  that  charge  religion  as  unhappy?  Are 
they  those  who  have  tried  what  comforts  it  can 
afford?  No;  they  will  tell  you,  they  never 
knew  what  comfort  was,  till  they  found  it  in  the 
paths  of  peace  and  piety.  Who  is  it  then  ?  It 
is  a  poor,  foolish,  distracted  world ;  that  speaks 


PIETY  ANSWERED.  329 

evil  of  what  it  knows  not.  Would  you  believe 
a  thief,  that  might  be  extollino^  the  advantages 
of  robbery,  and  representing  honesty  as  contemp- 
tible and  mischievous  ?  And  why  will  you  be- 
lieve a  world  that  is  at  enmity  with  God,  when 
it  extols  the  way  of  destruction,  and  represents 
the  path  of  piety  as  base  and  contemptible  ? 

It  is  true  the  most  pious  Christians  have  some 
sorrows  peculiar  to  themselves  ;  but  their  sorrows 
spring,  not  from  the  religion  they  possess,  but 
from  the  want  of  more ;  and  even  in  their  tears 
of  humble  grief,  there  is  more  true  satisfaction, 
than  in  the  foolish  laughter  and  noisy  merriment 
of  the  sons  of  pleasure. 

It  is  true  also,  that  such  an  exercise  of  mind 
as  deep  repentance,  may  embitter  some  of  the 
first  parts  of  their  way,  who  are  turning  from  the 
world  to  God.  But  is  it  not  better  to  be  trou- 
bled ior  sin  here  than  in  hell  ?  Is  it  not  better 
to  repent  of  sin  in  time,  than  to  grieve  for  it  to 
eternity  ?  To  feel  even  the  bitterest  pangs  of 
penitential  sorrow  for  days  or  weeks  in  this 
world,  than  burdened  with  sin  to  lie  in  misery 
for  ever  and  ever  ? 

Obj.  9.  I  cannot  embrace  religion,  for  all  my 
companions  are  averse  to  it;  and  were  I  to 
follow  it,  I  must  lose  the  friendship  of  them  all. 

Ans.  Yes,  if  you  follow  religion,  you  must 
cojne  out  from  the  world,  and  be  separate  from 
them ;  and  if  they  will  not  forsake  the  ways  of 
sin,  you  must  forsake  them.  But  is  their  love 
to  you  so  great,  that  you  should  ruin  your  soul 
on  their  account?  Are  you  not  grieving  and 
losing  better  friends  wl.ile  you  are  pleasing 
them  ?  They  did  not  make  you  an  immortal 
being.     They  have  not  crowned  your  life  with 


330  OBJECTIOKS  TO  EARLY 

comforts.  It  is  your  God  that  has  done  this ; 
and  will  you  slight  your  God  for  them  ?  They  did 
not  redeem  you.  No  one  of  them  has  groaned, 
and  wept,  and  hungered,  and  thirsted,  and  bled, 
and  died  for  you ;  but  this,  the  Lord  has  done ; 
and  will  you  prefer  them  to  him  ?  No  one  of 
them  can  cheer  you  in  sickness ;  comfort  you  in 
death  ;  make  even  the  gloomy  grave  the  passage 
to  eternal  day ;  befriend  you  when  help  is  need- 
ed most;  and  welcome  your  departed  soul  to 
gloiy  and  to  God :  but  all  this  the  Lord  would 
do;  and  should  not  you  prefer  him  and  his 
friendship  to  theirs?  If  they  can  make  up  to 
you  the  loss  of  a  Saviour ;  if  they  can  give  you 
a  place  in  heaven;  and  save  you  from  the  pit  of 
destruction;  then  cleave  to  them.  You  know 
they  cannot:  if  now  companions  in  sin,  unless 
you  or  they  repent,  you  will  soon  be  compar 
nions  in  hell. 

Obj.  10.  Religion  would  expose  me  to  the 
scorn  and  ridicule  of  my  companions  and  friends. 

Ans.  And  what  is  the  ridicule  you  fear  ?  Is 
it  so  serious  an  evil,  that  to  avoid  it  you  should 
run  into  perdition  ?  Were  not  the  blessed  Savi- 
our and  his  apostles  scorned  and  derided  by  the 
world  ?  Was  not  he  insulted  with  profane  mock- 
ings,  even  in  his  dying  moments  ?  And  did  he 
endure  such  contempt  for  you,  and  will  you  re- 
fuse to  endure  a  little  contempt  and  derision  for 
him  ?  But  if  you  are  afraid  of  following  Christ 
lest  you  should  be  laughed  at,  think  which  is 
worst,  the  silly  laugh  of  dying  men,  or  the  eter- 
nal frown  of  the  eternal  God.  Will  you  choose 
the  last  for  the  sake  of  missing  the  first  ?  Is  it 
not  better  to  enter  the  way  to  heaven,  though  all 
the  world  were  to  deride  and  despise  you  for  do- 


PIETY  ANSWERED.  331 

ing  so,  than  to  take  the  way  to  hell,  though  all 
the  world  were  to  applaud  your  choice  ?  Will 
you,  to  avoid  the  scorner's  laugh,  lose  God,  and 
Christ,  and  glory  ?  Surely,  if  you  do,  angels  may 
pity,  and  devils  deride  such  folly. 

Obj.  11.  Whatever  advantages  may  flow  from 
religion,  yet  it  has  many  difficulties. 

Alls.  And  has  not  sin  its  difficulties,  and  its 
sorrows  too  ?  Is  not  the  vjay  of  transgressors  of- 
ten hard  F  and  always  ruinous  ?  If  religion  bids 
us  sacrifice  much,  does  not  sin  lead  many  to  sa- 
crifice more  ?  Do  not  youthful  lusts  hurry  some 
to  the  gallows,  and  multitudes  to  the  grave? 
How  many  do  they  sink  from  plenty  to  begga- 
ry! On  how  many  others  do  they  entail  infa- 
my or  disease,  where  health  might  have  been  en- 
joyed !  How  many  sleepless  nights  and  painful 
days  do  they  occasion  !  How  many  fears  lest  se- 
cret sins  should  come  to  light !  and  how  many 
contrivances  to  conceal  from  detection,  those 
crimes  which  lie  open  in  the  sight  of  God !  Do 
the  lewd,  and  the  drunken,  and  extravagant,  find 
no  difficulties  attendant  on  their  crimes?  Yes, 
my  young  friend,  such  are  the  difficulties  of  the 
ways  of  sin,  that  it  often  ruins  reputation  and 
health  ;  blasts  every  pleasing  hope  ;  destroys  the 
body,  and  damns  the  soul.  Many  have  suffered 
martyrdom  for  Christ ;  but  where  one  has  been 
a  martyr  for  religion,  thousands  have  been,  in  ef- 
fect, martyrs  to  sin.  Excess  in  iniquity  has  short- 
ened their  days;  and  they  have  sacrificed  their 
all  in  this  world,  and  ixi  that  vvhicli  is  to  come. 
And  though  religion  may  have  some  difficulties, 
yet  it  is  easier  to  overcome  these,  than  to  be  lost 
for  ever ;  especially  as  grace  and  strength  from 
God  and  Christ  are  promised ;  and  as  the  fur- 


332  OBJECTIONS  TO  EARLV 

ther  any  one  ^oes  in  the  ways  of  religion,  the  eo- 
sier  they  will  become.  In  a  little  while  too  all 
the  Christian's  trials  will  cease.  A  few  days  or 
years  are  the  moment  for  his  conflict,  but  eterni- 
ty the  measure  of  his  rest. 

Obj  12.  Thoug^h  T  may  not  have  just  such  a 
relig-ion  as  you  recommend,  yet  T  have  more  than 
many  round  about  me.  I  see  some  that  i^o  not 
to  a  place  of  worship  once  a  year,  while  I  attend 
one  frequently,  and  I  hope  I  shall  fare  better 
than  they. 

Ans.  Tf  many  have  not  even  the  outward  forms 
of  piety,  and  you  have  nothing  but  those  forms, 
you  are  only  taking^  a  different  road  to  the  same 
wretched  abode  as  they.  If  they  choose  destruc- 
tion in  one  way,  you  should  not  choose  it  in  ano- 
ther. You  will  not  be  judged  by  comparison 
with  them.  The  Lord  declares  "you  must  be 
boiTi  again."  He  does  not  merely  say  you  must 
excel  your  ungodly  neighbours,  or  never  enter 
eternal  rest,  but,  "  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  thee, 
Except  a  man  be  bom  of  water  and  of  the  Spi- 
rit, he  cannot  enter  the  kingdom  of  God.  Mar- 
vel not  that  I  say  unto  thee.  Ye  must  be  born 
again."  If  you  go  on  in  your  negligent  course, 
will  it  comfort  you,  when  cast  into  hell,  to  think, 
that  you  fare  as  well  as  those  ungodly  creatures 
that  may  be  perishing  by  thousands  round  you  ? 
Whatever  others  are,  let  it  be  your  concern  to  be 
a  Christian  in  sincerity  ;  and  whatever  others  do, 
let  il  be  your  first  business  to  make  sure  of  the 
kingdom  of  heaven. 

Obj  13.  It  is  true,  I  have  not  much  religion, 
but  I  hope  to  repent  at  last.  The  thief  on  the 
cross  in  his  last  extremity  found  mercy  ;    and 

John,  iii.  5-7. 


PIETY  ANSWERED.  333 

why  should  I  despair  ?  They  who  went  at  the 
eleventh  hour  received  as  much,  every  man  his 
penny,  as  they  who  were  called  at  the  first. 

A)is.  It  is  true  God  is  merciful,  but  he  is  also 
just.  Now  is  the  day  of  mercy,  and  now  he  says, 
"Let  the  wicked  forsake  his  way,  and  the  un- 
righteous man  his  thoughts ;  and  let  him  return 
unto  the  Lord,  and  he  will  have  mercy  upon  him, 
and  to  our  God,  for  he  will  abundantly  pardon." 
But  his  word  discourages  their  presumptuous 
hope,  who  neglect  him  now  hoping  to  find  mer- 
cy at  last.  "  Then  shall  they  call  upon  me,  but 
I  will  not  answer ;  they  shall  seek  me  early  but 
they  shall  not  find  me."  As  for  the  case  of  the 
thief  on  the  cross,  his  situation  was  peculiar ;  he 
hung  dying  by  the  Lord  of  life ;  and  God  at  that 
hour  would  glorify  his  Son.  You  can  never  be 
placed  in  his  situation,  and  therefore  have  no 
ground  from  it  to  hope  for  mercy  at  last.  It 
would  be  more  reasonable  for  you  to  expect  a 
translation  to  heaven  without  dying,  because 
Enoch  and  Elijah  thus  went  to  glory,  than  it  is 
to  hope  for  God's  mercy  on  your  death-bed,  be- 
cause the  dying  thief  was  pardoned.  You  read 
in  the  word  of  God  of  two  that  went  thus  to  hea- 
ven ;  but  from  the  creation  of  the  world  to  the 
death  of  Christ,  a  period  of  above  four  thousand 
years,  you  read  but  of  one  who  found  mercy  in 
the  hour  of  death.  As  for  a  hope  of  heaven,  be- 
cause those  who  went  at  the  eleventh  hour  were 
admitted,  it  is  a  hope  founded  on  delusion.  Even 
if  the  parable  were  to  be  thus  interpreted,  it 
would  aflford  no  encouragement  for  delay.  For 
they  who  went  at  the  eleventh  hour,  went  as  soon 
as  they  tvere  called.     They  were  not  called  till  th^ 

Isa.  Iv.  7.  ProT.  i.  ?P 


334  OBJECTIONS  TO  EARLY 

eleventh;  and  listened  as  soon  as  they  were;  but 
you  are  called  now.  The  day  was  not  quite  gone 
with  them  ;  they  had  one  hour  to  labour  for  their 
Lord ;  but  you  on  a  sick-bed  would  have  none. 
Nevertheless,  it  is  proper  to  add,  that  the  para- 
ble is  wholly  misinterpreted  when  thus  applied. 
That  the  reward  mentioned  does  not  mean  the 
blessings  of  eternity,  is  extremely  evident  from 
ver.  1 1  and  15 ;  where  some  are  represented  as 
murmuring,  and  as  having  that  evil,  or  malignant 
eye,  which  is  the  effect  of  an  envious  temper ;  but 
such  murmurings  and  dispositions  will  not  be 
found  among  the  blessed ;  and  consequently  the 
parable  has  no  reference  to  their  future  state. 
'Jhe  1 6th  ver.  also  speaks  of  many  as  being  re- 
jected. But  this  will  not  be  the  case  of  any,  that 
receive  the  promised  crown.  The  intent  of  the 
parable  seems  briefly  this :  the  early  labourers 
denote  the  Jews,  who  were  soon  called  into  the 
vineyard  of  God ;  the  latter  ones,  the  Gentiles, 
who  were  called  much  later  to  the  enjoyment  of 
spiritual  privileges  and  blessings  ;  and  the  mur- 
muring of  those  called  soon  into  the  vineyard, 
expresses  the  malignant  murmurings  of  the  Jews, 
when  the  Gentiles  were  called  to  partake  of  equal 
privileges  with  themselves.  Many  instances  of 
this  envious  disposition  are  recorded  in  the  New 
Testament. 

Obj.  14.  Would  you  have  me  believe  that  all 
are  going  to  destruction,  who  are  not  acquaint- 
ed with  that  divine  change  in  which  you  state 
religion  to  consist?  Few  seem  to  know  any 
thing  of  that ;  are  few  only  to  be  saved  ? 

Ans.  My  young  friend,  this  is  not  what  I 
would  make  you  believe,  but  what  the  eternal 
Judge  declares.     He  assures  you  that  his  flock 


PIETY  ANSWERED.  335 

is  small ;  that  the  way  of  life  is  narrow,  and  but 
few  travellers  in  it.  His  word  says,  "  If  any  man 
be  in  Christ,  he  is  a  new  creature  ;  old  things  are 
passed  away ;  behold,  all  things  are  become 
new/'  "Verily  I  say  unto  you,  except  ye  be 
converted,  and  become  as  little  children,  ye  shall 
not  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven ;"  "  Ma- 
ny are  called,  but  few  are  chosen."  Numbers 
are  no  proof  of  safety.  God's  judgments  will 
not  be  turned  aside,  because  the  number  that 
choose  ruin  is  great.  "  The  wicked  shall  be  turn- 
ed into  hell,  and  all  the  nations  that  forget 
God."  If  nations  are  unacquainted  with  religion 
together,  together  they  must  perish.  Numbers 
perished  in  Sodom  for  one  that  escaped.  Hun- 
dreds of  thousands  of  the  Israelites  died  in  the 
desert,  for  one  that  reached  the  promised  land. 
Millions  perished  in  the  deluge,  for  one  that  was 
saved  in  the  ark. 

*  Obj.  15  There  are  so  many  different  kinds  of 
religions  among  Christians,  that  I  hardly  know 
which  to  choose. 

Ans.  And  would  you  therefore  choose  none? 
But  you  mistake  :  among  real  Christians  there 
neither  is,  nor  ever  was  more  than  one  religion. 
All  that  are  Christians  in  sincerity,  though  they 
may  vary  in  some  mmor  points,  unite  in  the 
most  important.  They  all  believe  in  repentance 
towards  God:  and  faith  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ : 
he  is  the  only  Saviour  to  whom  they  all  look. 
They  all  are  born  again  by  the  Spirit  of  God. 
They  all  live  to  the  glory  of  God  ;  and  walk  in 
the  ways  of  holiness.  They  all  lay  vp  their  trea- 
sures in  heaven;  and,  as  pilgrims,  go  through  this 

Lake.  xii.  32.    Matt.  vii.  14.    2  Cor.  v.  17.     Matt,  xviii.fi .-  xxii.  14. 
Pslara,  ix.  17. 


836  OBJECTIONS  TO  EARLY 

world  aspiring  to  a  better.  In  this  world  per- 
sons wear  clothes  of  different  colours,  or  a  differ- 
ent shape,  who  all  possess  similar  limbs,  and 
a  similar  form.  They  speak  different  lang:uages ; 
and  have  been  born  in  different  lands  ;  but  they 
all  belong  to  the  same  race;  all  are  descended 
from  the  same  parents.  So  in  religion,  true  Chris- 
tians maybe  distinguished  by  a  variety  of  smaller 
differences,  but  they  are  all  related  to  the  same 
Parent ;  they  are  all  begotten  again  by  the  same 
Spirit.  An  army  may  have  many  regiments, 
and  these  composed  from  different  nations,  and 
Avearing  different  uniforms;  but  the  same  leader 
guides  them  ;  they  form  but  one  army  still.  En- 
list, my  young  friend,  into  the  army  of  the  Sa- 
viour ;  and  as  to  the  particular  regiment  to  which 
you  should  attach  yourself,  make  his  word  your 
guide.  In  other  words,  embrace  religion,  and 
let  the  scriptures  teach  you  what  denomination 
of  real  Christians  to  join. 

Obj.  16.  I  have  heard  of  so  many  crimes  com- 
mitted by  persons  who  professed  religion,  that 
I  am  disposed  to  think  all  who  make  such  a 
stir  about  religion  are  alike,  and  are  hypocrites 
at  heart. 

Ans.  What  if  they  were ;  would  that  set  aside 
death  and  judgment,  to  which  you  hasten  P 
Would  it  unmake  heaven  and  hell,  one  of  which 
must  be  your  eternal  dwelling  ?  Would  it  ren- 
der the  favour  of  God  less  valuable,  or  his  anger 
less  dreadful  ?  Would  it  excuse  your  neglect  of 
him  ?  You  are  not  to  answer  for  them,  but  for 
yourself.  But  perhaps  the  crimes  that  have  giv- 
en you  disgust,  were  those  of  persons,  sincere  in 
heart,  but  unhappily  drawn,  in  an  unguarded  mo- 
ment, into  sin,  which  has  since  cost  them  manv 


PIETY  ANSWERED.  337 

a  Week  of  bitter  grief.  Now  if  this  were  the  case^ 
should  their  unhappy  fall  be  a  reason  with  you 
to  neglect  your  God  ?  Should  you  cut  your 
throat  because  they  have  cut  a  finder  ?  If  you 
saw  a  man  slip  his  foot  into  the  sea,  would  you 
make  that  a  reason  for  throwing  yourself  head- 
long, with  a  millstone  round  your  neck,  into  the 
mighty  deep  ?  O,  do  not  then,  because  some,  in 
the  main  sincere,  may  by  sin  have  wounded  theiF 
own  souls,  cast  yours  into  the  pit  of  eternal  per- 
dition. 

Obj.  17.  If  God  have  elected  me  to  eternal  life; 
I  shall  be  saved,  and  if  he  have  not,  it  is  in  vain 
for  me  to  give  myself  any  concern  respecting  it^ 

Ans.  You  most  probably  know  that  with  res- 
pect to  the  ground  of  this  objection,  there  is  a 
wide  difference  in  the  opinions  of  those  that  re- 
ally love  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Nor  is  it  your 
business  to  trouble  yourself  with  inquiries  into 
the  decrees  of  God,  but  to  listen  to  what  he  en- 
joins ;  and  he  now  commandeth  ALL  men  eve- 
ry WHERE  to  repent.  God's  foreknowledge  as 
much  extends  to  all  the  concerns  of  this  world, 
as  to  the  state  of  souls  in  that  which  is  to  come. 
But  what  would  you  think  of  the  farmer  who 
might  say,  "  I  will  not  sow  my  fields;  if  God  de- 
sign me  a  harvest,  I  shall  have  it."  Or  of  a  man 
fallen  into  the  sea,  who  might  say,  "I  will  not 
get  out;  if  God  have  decreed  that  I  shall  not  be 
drowned,  he  will  take  me  out."  You  would  not 
argue,  "I  will  take  no  food;  and  though  I  am 
but  twenty,  if  God  have  decreed  that  I  shall  live 
to  sixty,  I  shall  live  as  well  without  it  as  with 
it."  Do  not  then  let  Satan  delude  you  to  neg- 
lect an  immortal  soul  by  an  excuse  so  frivolous 

Acts,  xvii.  3P 


338  OBJECTIOxNS  TO  EARLY 

and  foolish,  that  you  would  not,  for  the  same,  de^ 
ny  your  perishing  body  even  the  food  of  a  single 
day.  Without  inquiring  into  the  secret  things 
of  God,  remember  these  are  his  decrees,  ''  He 
that  believeth  and  is  baptized,  shall  be  saved; 
but  he  that  believeth  not  shall  be  damned." 
"  Except  ye  eat  the  flesh  of  the  Son  of  Man,  and 
drink  his  blood,  ye  have  no  life  in  you."  *'  He 
that  believeth  on  the  Son,  hath  everlasting  life ; 
and  he  that  believeth  not  the  Son,  shall  not  see 
life ;  but  the  wrath  of  God  abideth  on  him." 
"Except  ye  repent,  ye  shall  all  likewise  perish." 

Obj.  18.  I  do  not  see  that  early  religion  comes 
to  much :  many  that  once  professed  it  have  for- 
saken it,  and  become  worse  than  ever. 

Ans.  You  must  be  sadly  blinded  by  ignorance, 
prejudice,  and  sin,  if  you  do  not  perceive  that  it 
is  early  piety  which  is  commonly  the  most  emi- 
nent, even  in  the  present  world.  Some  instan- 
ces of  this  were  mentioned  in  chapter  9,  ana  ma- 
ny might  be  added  ;  for  most  who  adorn  religion 
are  converted  young.  It  is  true,  a  young  hypo- 
crite may  prove  an  old  apostate.  If  men  in  youth 
wear  religion  as  a  form  or  mask,  they  will  proba- 
bly cast  it  aside ;  and  then  be  more  profligate 
than  ever.  One  devil  might  appear  to  have  left 
them,  but  seven  to  have  taken  possession  of  them : 
but  not  thus  is  it  with  the  possessors  of  real, 
youthful  piety.  Their  path  is  that  of  the  just, 
shining  more  and  more  unto  the  perfect  day. 

Ohj.  19.  But  I  do  not  believe  that  God  will  be 
so  strict  as  he  is  represented.  Nor  do  I  believe 
that  he  will  be  offended  with  me  for  following 
my  pleasures,  and  gratifying  the  inclinations  of 
the  nature  he  has  given  me. 

Mark,  xri.  10.  John,  vi.  53.    iii.  36.  Luke,xiii.  8. 


PIETY  ANSWERED.  339 

Arts.  So  then  your  objections  come  to  infideli- 
ty at  last.  You  do  not  believe  what  (iod  de- 
clares ;  for  he  in  his  own  word  represents  himself 
thus  righteously  strict ;  he  there  assures  you  that 
the  end  of  a  life  of  vanity  is  eternal  death.  You 
do  not  believe  God,  but  listen  .to  the  tempter  in 
preference  to  him.  Thus  was  the  world  at  first 
ruined.  The  tempter  said  to  our  parent,  "Ye 
shall  not  surely  die."  The  lie  was  believed,  and 
they  were  undone.  As  for  following  the  incli- 
nations of  your  nature,  you  might  safely  do  so, 
if  your  nature  were  what  it  was,  when  man  came 
from  his  Creator's  hands :  then  were  his  dispo- 
sitions holy  ;  but  now  your  natur-  is  corrupt  and 
fallen  ;  its  dispositions  earthly,  sensual,  and  devil- 
ish. The  heart  is  deceitful  above  all  things,  and 
desperately  wicked,  as  is  shown  Chap.  2.  §  4.  It 
would  be  as  safe  for  a  man,  in  a  fit  of  raging  mad- 
ness, to  follow  the  suggestions  of  his  disordered 
mind,  as  for  you,  in  your  fallen  state,  to  follow 
those  of  corrupt  nature. 

Ohj.  20.  After  all  that  can  be  urged,  I  am  de- 
termined not  to  relinquish  my  pleasures,  and  be- 
come a  poor  melancholy  creature.  I  will  ven- 
ture eternity.     I  will  have  my  own  way. 

Ans.  Alas  !  if  these  are  your  feelings,  it  is  your 
own  way,  and  the  downward  road ;  it  is  not 
God's,  nor  will  it  lead  you  to  him.  But  if  you 
have  your  way,  depend  upon  it,  by  and  by  he 
will  have  his.  You  have  your  day  of  sin,  and 
your  Judge  will  have  his  day  of  retribution. 
And  what  ivill  yo2i  do  in  that  day  of  visitation  ! 


340 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

THE  YOUNG  READER  FURTHER  URGED  TO   MAKE  NO 
DELAY  IN  GIVING  HIMSELF  UP  TO  GOD. 

§.1.  It  is  related,  that  a  pious  minister  of  the 
17th  century,  having  finished  prayer,  observed  a 
young  gentleman  just  shut  into  one  of  the  pews, 
who  discovered  much  uneasiness,  and  seemed 
to  wish  to  get  out  again.  The  minister  felt  a 
peculiar  desire  to  detain  him,  and  turniiig  to- 
wards one  of  the  members  of  his  church,  who 
sat  in  the  gallery,  he  asked  him  aloud  —  "  Bro- 
ther, do  you  repent  of  your  coming  to  Christ?" 
"  No,  Sir,"  he  replied  :  "  I  never  was  happy  till 
then  :  I  only  repent  that  T  did  not  come  to  him 
sooner."  The  minister  turned  towards  the  op- 
posite gallery,  and  addressed  himself  to  an  aged 
member.  ~  "  Brother,  do  you  repent  that  you 
came  to  Christ  ?"  "  No,  Sir,"  said  he  :  "  I  have 
known  the  Lord  from  my  youth  up."  He  then 
looked  down  upon  the  young  man,  whose  atten- 
tion was  fully  engaged,  and,  fixing  his  eyes  up- 
on him,  said,  "  Young  man,  are  you  willing  to 
come  to  Christ  ?"  This  unexpected  address  from 
the  pulpit,  exciting  the  observation  of  all,  so  af- 
fected him,  that  he  sat  down  and  hid  his  face. 
The  person  who  sat  next  him  encouraged  him 
to  rise,  and  answer  the  question.  The  minister 
repeated  it  —  "  Young  man,  are  you  willing  to 
come  to  Christ?"  With  a  tremulous  voice  he 
replied,  "  Yes,  Sir."  *'  But  when.  Sir  ?"  added 
the  minister,  in  a  solemn  and  loud  tone.  He 
mildly  answered,   ''Now,   Sir."     "Then  stav," 


INTERESTING  ANECDOTE.  341 

said  he,  ''and  hear  the  word  of  God,  which  you 
will  find  in  2  Cor.  vi.  2  :  Behold,  now  is  the  ac- 
cepted time  ;  behold,  now  is  the  day  of  sal  ration'* 
By  this  sermon  he  was  greatly  affected  :  he  went 
into  the  vestry,  after  service,  dissolved  in  tears. 
That  unwillingness  to  stay,  which  he  had  disco- 
vered, was  occasioned  by  the  injunction  of  his 
father,  who  threatened,  that,  if  ever  he  went  to 
hear  the  fanatics,  he  would  turn  him  out  of 
doors.  Having  now  heard,  and  being  unable  to 
conceal  the  feelings  of  his  mind,  he  was  afraid 
to  meet  his  father.  The  minister  sat  down  and 
wrote  an  affectionate  letter  to  him,  which  had  so 
good  an  effect,  that  both  father  and  mother  came 
to  hear  for  themselves.  They  were  both  brought 
to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth ;  and  father,  mo- 
tlier,  and  son,  were  together  received  with  uni.. 
versal  joy  into  the  church. 

Does  this  young  man  now  repent  that  he  lis- 
tened immediately  to  the  message  of  God  ?  P'ar 
from  it.  God  rewarded  his  immediate  compli- 
ance, by  bringing  his  parents  also  to  the  know- 
ledge of  the  truth. 

§  2.  Already  have  you  been  entreated  to  make 
the  same  choice  ;  and  have  you  done  so  ?  or  are 
you  still  for  putting  it  off  a  little  longer  ?  O  !  if 
you  are,  be  assured  that  delay  is  one  of  the  most 
successful  of  iSatan's  infernal  stratagems  for  ru- 
ining immortal  souls;  hell,  it  is  to  be  feared,  is 
filled  with  delayers.  Multitudes  that  did  not  in- 
tend to  live  and  die  neglecting  Christ,  yet  have 
been  persuaded  to  delay  a  little  longer,  and  still 
a  little  longer,  till  death  overtook  them  unprepa- 
red. Not  merely  then  do  I  beseech  you  to  give 
your  youth  to  God,  but  to  do  so  without  delay : 
consider  the  dretidful  evils  of  dHavinsr. 


342  EVILS  OF  DELAYING 

While  you  delay,  your  life  is  going; ;  every 
sabbath  leaves  you  one  season  of  mercy  less. 
Your  heart  is  hardening ;  and  every  day  there  is 
less  hope  of  your  conversion  than  there  was  the 
day  before.  While  you  delay,  you  are  grieving 
the  Spirit  of  God,  and  tempting  him  to  leave 
you  for  ever ;  and,  if  he  should,  you  will  be  un- 
done for  ever.  The  oftener  he  has  called,  the 
seldomer  he  will  call.  The  oftener  you  have 
slighted,  or  quenched,  the  impressions  he  has 
made  on  your  heart,  the  less  probability  there  is 
of  your  ever  partaking  of  the  grace  of  God.  While 
you  delay,  you  continue  in  your  lost  and  wretch- 
ed state  ;  all  your  sins  are  upon  you.  You  lin- 
ger on  the  brink  of  hell.  You  put  off  seeking 
mercy,  but  cannot  put  off  the  approach  of  judg- 
ment. Alas  !  your  judgment  lingereth  not,  and 
your  damnation  slnmhereth  not.  You  lie  down  at 
night  with  no  security  that  you  shall  not  awake 
in  hell  before  the  morning  dawns.  You  rise  in 
the  morning  to  pursue  your  business,  or  your 
amusements,  with  no  certainty  of  being  out  of 
endless  misery  when  the  evening  comes.  What 
would  you  think  of  a  man  playing  with  a  weed 
while  drownmg,  instead  of  accepting  the  help 
that  should  snatch  him  from  destruction  ?  Alas! 
how  ruinous  would  be  his  folly  !  but,  O  !  how 
much  more  ruinous  is  yours,  while  you  put  off 
attending  to  those  things  which  belong  to  your 
everlasting  peace  !  An  hour  improved  or  lo-st 
may  be  to  you  more  than  a  thousand  worlds. 

While  you  delay,  you  let  Satan  have  his  ends ; 
it  is  enough  for  him,  if  you  will  but  put  off  turn- 
ing to  Christ;  for  he  knows  full  well,  though  you 
forget  it,  that  death  will  soon  put  this  off  for  ev.. 
fr.     Whik  you  delay,  you  live  without  one  reol 


TO  EMBRACE   RELIGION.  343 

blessing;  you  have  no  hope  of  glory;  no  inter- 
est in  God  ;  no  place  in  heaven.  You  insult 
the  INTOst  High,  who  bids  you  to  seek  him  to- 
day. You  are  ungrateful  to  his  beloved  Son, 
who  did  not  delay  to  come  and  die  for  wretch- 
ed men,  when  the  appointed  time  arrived. 

§  3.  Consider  also  that  many  are  eternally 
shut  out  of  heaven,  and  eternally  shiit  up  in  hell, 
through  delaying  to  turn  to  God.  Some  years 
back,  I  repeatedly  visited  an  aged  man,  who 
was  ill.  He  had  spent  nearly  fourscore  years 
without  God  in  the  world  ;  but  then  professed 

Eenitence.  He  unexpectedly  grew  better,  and  a 
ttle  space  was  added  to  his  life ;  but  apparent- 
ly added  in  vain.  When  his  health  was  restor- 
ed, he  seemed  to  serve  the  same  hard  master 
again,  as  he  had  always  served.  But  illness 
soon  returned  ;  and  it  was  understood  that  he  di- 
ed miserably.  I  knew  another  person,  that 
seemed  much  in  earnest  in  inquiring  for  spirit- 
ual blessings ;  but,  ah,  delay  !  after  a  time  he 
grew  careless.  God  nov/  visited  him  with  a  pain- 
ful affliction.  I  saw  him  at  that  time  ;  he  seem- 
ed sensible  of  his  sin  and  folly,  and  penitent  for 
it.  At  length  divine  mercy  favoured  him  once 
more  v.  ith  health  ;  but  when  health  returned,  the 
serious  impressions  of  illness,  fled  away.  Again 
he  grew  careless  of  his  God.  Again  he  delayed  ; 
but,  ah !  not  for  a  long  period  :  illness  soon  re- 
turned. His  soul  was  filled  with  distress  and 
misery,  and  death  summoned  the  unhappy  crimi- 
nal to  the  bar  of  his  God.  Shall  I  relate  an- 
other anecdote  ?  A  young  person  called  upon 
an  aged  man,  ill,  and  hastening  to  the  grave ; 
the  youth  spoke  of  the  blessed  Saviour  and  the 
precious  gospel :  for  a  few  minutes  he  listened 


344  WICKEDNESS  AND  INGRATITUDE 

with  serious  attention,  then  burst  into  a  flood  ol 
tears,  and  exclaimed,  "  Ah  !  my  young  friend, 
had  I  thought  on  these  things  thirty  or  forty 
years  ago,  what  a  happy  man  might  I  now  have 
been,  but  now  (wringing  his  hands)  it  is  too 
late ;  hell  must  be  my  portion  for  ever/* 

''And  shall  I  say,  "Tis  yet  too  soon 
To  seek  for  heaven,  or  think  of  death  ?' 

A  flower  may  fade  before  'tis  noon, 
And  I  this  day  resign  my  breath. 

If  this  rebellious  heart  of  mine 

Despise  the  gracious  calls  of  Heaven, 

I  may  be  harden'd  in  my  sin. 

And  never  have  repentance  given." 

§  4.  The  word  of  the  Most  High  says,  "  To- 
day if  ye  will  hear  his  voice,  harden  not  your 
hearts ;"  and  that  is  a  most  important  question, 
''Wilt  thou  riot  from  this  time  cry  unto  me. 
My  Father,  thou  art  the  guide  of  my  youth  ?" 
Can  you,  will  you,  hesitate  to  say,  "  Great  God, 
thou  shalt  be  the  guide  of  mine  ?"  What !  he- 
sitate whether  to  seek  God  as  your  Father,  or  to 
have  no  interest  in  him  !  What !  hesitate  whe- 
ther Christ  shall  be  your  Saviour,  or  Satan  your 
tormentor !  whether  heaven  or  hell  shall  be  your 
inheritance !  whether  angels  or  devils  shall  be 
your  companions  !  If  you  will  delay,  consider 
well  what  you  are  about.  Try  if  you  can  make 
a  memorandum  to  this  effect:  "That,  having 
wei«fhed  the  importance  of  true  religion,  you  yet 
res')ive  to  pay  it  no  attention  at  present ;  —  that 
you  resolve,  for  some  years  more,  to  plunge 
deeper  and  deeper  in  the  service  of  the  devil ; 
—  that  though  your  present  path  conducts  to  hell, 
jTi  that  you  will  not  so  soon  leave  the  way  to  hell 


OF    DELAY.  345 

for  that  to  heaven;  —  that,  though  living  every 
day  on  the  goodness  of  God,  you  resolve  to  spend 
at  least  some  years  more  in  insulting  him,  in  for- 
getting his  love,  in  abusing  his  mercies,  and  in 
tempting  him  to  cut  you  down  as  a  cumberer  of 
the  ground,  to  send  you  to  perdition;  —  that 
though  the  blood  of  the  Saviour  was  shed  to  re- 
deem you,  yet  that  you  will  spend  some  years 
more  in  all  manner  of  ingratitude  to  him,  and  in 
doing  what  you  can  to  defeat  the  end  for  which 
he  died ;  —  and  that  having  done  all  this  till,  if 
God  spare  you,  all  the  best  and  prime  of  life  is 
past,  that  you  will  then  profess  to  forsake  these 
evil  ways ;  will  declare  that  you  are  very  sorry 
for  what  you  have  so  wilfully  done  ;  and  that  you 
then  will  offer  to  God  the  wretched  dregs  of  a  life 
spent  in  serving  the  devil."  Could  you  commit 
to  writing  such  horrid  resolutions  as  these  ?  Jf 
you  could  not,  O  !  do  not,  by  your  actions  what 
you  would  not  profess  by  your  words ;  for,  re- 
member that  "  actions  speak  louder  than  words." 
§  5.  Rather  be  persuaded  this  day  to  cast  your- 
self at  the  Savioui^s  feet.  Happy  then  would  this 
day  be  to  you.  Happy  would  be  this  year. 
Happy  is  the  day  to  the  condemned  criminal,  in 
w  hich  he  finds  forgiveness ;  but  happier  far  would 
be  the  day  to  you,  that  brought  you  to  the  bless- 
ed Jesus  for  mercy  and  life ;  that  led  you  to  him 
for  deliverance  from  all  your  soul- destroying 
sins.  Inexpressibly  happy  would  be  the  day  to 
you,  in  which  God  received  you  as  his  child,  in 
which  Christ  and  heaven  became  your  own.  O  ! 
if  this  day  you  would,  in  sincerity,  cry  to  Go(j, 
"  My  Father y  tJwu  art  the  guide  of  my  youth ;"  if 
you  would  this  day  look  to  the  Lamb  of  God, 
and  commit  your  soul  to  his  care ;  long  would 


346  HAPPY   CONSEQUENCES   OF 

it  be  a  memorable  day  to  you ;  you  might  re- 
member it  with  pleasure  on  a  sick-bed,  in  your 
dyin^  hour,  and  in  the  eternal  world.  Then,  at 
some  future  period  of  life,  you  might  say,  "  Alas ! 
I  gave  my  youth  to  the  world,  to  sin,  and  folly, 
for  too  many  sinful  years !  But,  O !  I  remember 
the  day  when  God  turned  my  feet  into  the  paths 
of  peace.  Blessed  day !  it  has  been  the  source 
of  a  thousand  comforts  to  me.  I  was  a  poor, 
thoughtless  creature,  but  God  met  with  me,  and 
pitied  my  dying  soul."  If  this,  or  any  other  lit- 
tle volume  like  this,  were  made  the  me  ms  of  awa- 
kening your  mind,  you  might  have  to  add,  "  With 
a  careless  heart  I  began  to  read  even  of  those 
things  which  belonged  to  my  everlasting  peace ; 
blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord  that  I  laid  the 
book  down  with  feelings  so  different  from  those 
with  which  I  took  it  up." 

O,  be  persuaded  now  to  yield  yourself  to  God ; 
and  then  next  new-year's-day  shall  fin^d  you 
walking  in  the  way  to  heaven,  or  landed  there. 
In  either  case,  how  blessed  a  change  would  the 
grace  of  God  have  made  in  your  condition ! 
Should  you  be  spared  for  future  years,  how  hap- 
py an  alteration  would  it  be,  though  you  began 
the  year  in  sin,  long  ere  it  ended,  to  have  found 
forgiveness  for  all  your  sins  ;  —  though  you  be- 
gan it  a  child  of  wrath,  before  it  ended  to  be  a 
child  of  God ;  —  though  you  began  it  without  any 
part  in  one  spiritual  blessing,  ere  it  ended,  to  be 
able  to  say,  "  God  and  all  his  love,  Christ  and  all 
the  riches  of  his  grace,  and  all  the  sweet  promises 
of  Scripture,  and  all  the  glories  of  heaven,  are 
mine !"  But,  perhaps,  before  even  this  year  shall 
conclude,  your  mortal  course  may  finish.  If  it 
should  do  so,  and  none  can  tell  that  it  will  not, 


IMMEDIATELY  RECEIVING  CHRIST.  347 

how  infinitely  important  is  it  for  you,  without  an 
hour's  delay,  to  flee  to  Christ ;  for  then,  how  hap- 
py a  year  would  even  this,  though  your  last  year, 
be  to  you !  How  changed  next  new-year's-day 
would  your  state  then  appear !  O,  happy  change ! 
to  have  begun  the  year  on  earth,  and  ended  it  in 
heaven  ;  —  to  have  begun  it  with  man,  and  end- 
ed it  with  God ;  —  to  have  begun  it  unacquainted 
with  the  ways  of  peace,  and  ere  the  year  conclu- 
ded, to  have  found  the  way,  have  fought  the  bat- 
tle, and  received  the  prize ;  —  to  have  begun  it 
a  tlioughtless,  prayerless  creature;  and,  before  it 
ended,  to  have  learned  to  commune  with  God  be- 
low, and  to  have  begun  communion  with  him 
above;  —  to  have  begun  it  far  from  peace,  and 
Christ,  and  heaven ;  and,  ere  it  ended,  to  have 
found  salvation,  and  to  be  a  companion  of  angels 
and  saints  in  the  regions  of  glory.  May  the  God 
of  all  grace  make  you,  from  this  hour,  a  child  of 
his  own,  in  and  through  Christ  the  Lord !  Amen. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

BRIEF  ADDRESSES  TO  SEVERAL  CLASSES  OF  PER- 
SONS; AND  A  FEW  DIRECTIONS  TO  THE  YOUNG 
CHRISTIAN. 

TO  THE    IRRELIGIOUS  CHILDREN  OF  PIOUS  PARENTS. 

§  1.  My  young  friends,  much  of  what  has 
been  here  said  to  all,  applies  with  peculiar  force 
to  you.  You  have  peculiar  privileges ;  and  your 
youthful  sins  are  proportionably  greater  and 
heavier  than  those  of  others.  God  has  laid  you 
under  especial  obligations  to  live  to  him  ;  and, 
if  you  perish,  your  ruin  will  be  far  more  dread- 


348  ADDRESS  TO  THE   IRRELIGIOUS 

ful  than  theirs,  who  have  been  brought  up  in 
the  midst  of  ignorance  and  sin.  Alas !  yoii 
have  lived  in  the  midst  of  spiritual  privileges ; 
^et  had  them  all  in  vain.  You  have  been 
brought,  from  your  infancy,  to  the  house  of  God, 
yet  gone  there  in  vain,  or  worse  than  in  vain ; 
you  are,  perhaps,  almost  hardened  in  careless 
neglect  of  what  you  have  heard  so  long,  to  so 
little  purpose.  You  have  heard  of  mercy,  yet 
have  no  part  in  it.  You  have  heard  of  heaven, 
yet  have  no  title  to  its  blessings.  You  have 
heard  of  Jesus,  but  not  sought  him  as  your  Sa- 
viour. You  have  heard  of  God,  but  not  chosen 
him  as  your  Father.  Young  as  you  are,  for 
how  many  years  have  the  prayers  of  your  pa- 
rents ascended  to  God  for  you,  but  they  are  not 
yet  answered.  For  how  many  years  have  you 
seen  others  coming  forward  to  devote  themselves 
to  God,  and  yet  you  have  not  done  so.  They, 
who  were  once  the  vile  and  the  profligate,  enter 
the  kingdom  of  God  ;  but  you  go  not  in.  You 
have  probably  seen  many,  who  had  not  sat  un- 
der the  gospel  a  quarter  of  the  time  that  you  have 
done,  forsaking  the  world  to  follow  Jesus.  You 
have  probably  seen  many  that  had  been  brought 
up  in  the  abodes  of  ignorance,  by  parents  that 
are  going  to  destruction,  forsaking  the  way  of 
their  parents,  to  come  to  Christ ;  yet  you,  with 
all  your  privileges  — you,  nursed  as  it  were, 
in  the  house  of  God  —  you,  whose  parents  would 
rejoice  to  lead  you  with  them  in  the  path  to 
heaven,  yet  you  refuse  to  go.  Are  you  happy  ? 
Do  you  not  often  feel  an  inward  sting  ?  or  have 
you  resisted  God  so  long,  that  he  has  left  you 
to  hardened  hearts  ?  If  this  be  not  the  case,  do 
not  you  feel  that  you  are  still  in  an  awful  state  ? 


CHILDREN  OF  PIOUS  PARENTS.  349 

Can  novels,  or  vain  companions,  drive  the 
thoughts  of  your  condition  quite  away  ?  Do  not 
you  feel  that  something  is  wanting?  That 
something  is  religion.  Perhaps  you  have  pious 
parents  in  heaven.  Would  you  not  join  them 
there  ?  There  is  but  one  way  to  do  so :  make 
their  God  and  Saviour  yours.  Perhaps  your 
parents  are  still  on  earth,  sorrowing  over  their 
ungodly  children.  Shall  God  guide  them,  and 
Satan  you  i*  Heaven  be  their  abode,  and  hell 
yours?  Will  you  so  live  as  to  be  sure,  ere  long, 
to  lose  them  for  ever?  Alas  !  you  are  amongst 
the  most  guilty  of  mankind ;  and  your  sins  the 
most  inexcusable.  Your  neglect  of  Christ  is  pecu- 
liarly wicked  and  dreadful.  Your  future  account 
will  be  awfully  strict,  and  inexpressibly  terrible, 
when  all  your  abused  mercies  are  brought  for^ 
ward  in  the  judgment  against  you,  to  show  the 
aggravations  of  your  sins,  and  to  double  your 
condemnation.  O  !  lay  up  then  a  better  portion 
for  futurity,  than  the  bitter  fruits  of  such  youth- 
ful sins.  When  you  see  those,  who  have  had 
none  of  your  peculiar  advantages,  pressing  into 
the  kingdom  of  God,  O !  let  it  stir  up  you  to 
deplore  your  past  folly,  and  to  enter  in  at  the 
strait  gate.  In  pity  to  yourselves,  choose  reli- 
gion; have  compassion  on  your  own  highly-fa- 
voured souls.  You  would  not  make  a  fellow- 
creature  wretched  for  a  month  ;  do  not,  by  abus- 
ing your  privileges  any  longer,  make  your  own 
souls  doubly  wretched  for  eternity.  You  may 
be  happy ;  and  will  you  not  ?  You  might  glo- 
rify God,  as  many,  who  never  had  half  your 
privileges,  are  doing,  by  lives  devoted  to  him  3 
and  will  you  not  ?     O,  listen  to  the  persuasions 


350         ADDRESS  TO  CHILDREN  OF  UNGODLY 

that  have   been   addressed  to  you !     Yield  to 
God,  and  be  happy. 

But  perhaps,  you,  who  read  these  lines,  have 
felt  at  times  the  importance  of  religion.  Once 
you  seemed  about  to  enter  the  way  of  life ;  yet, 
alas  !  the  pleasing-  hope  was  blasted,  and  you  be- 
came careless  again.  O,  once  more  consider  your 
ivays  !  After  all  your  awful  delays  turn  to  God, 
and  the  past  shall  be  forgiven  and  forgotten. 
But  if  you  will  not,  if  you  will  quench  the  Spirit 
still,  O,  remember,  though  you  may  forget  the 
tears  you  shed,  the  desires  you  expressed,  the 
impressions  you  felt,  yet  God  forgets  them  not. 
They  all  stand  recorded  against  you ;  and  you, 
hereafter,  may  feel  the  truth  of  the  remark,  that 
"slighted  convictions  are  the  worst  death-bed 
companions." 

§  2.   TO  THE  CHILDREN  OF  IRRELIGIOUS  PARENTS. 

You,  my  young  friends,  have  not  had  all  those 
advantages  which  many  have  enjoyed.  You, 
perhaps,  have  been  almost  nursed  in  crimes; 
and  to  the  evil  propensities  of  your  hearts,  has 
been  added  the  fatal  influence  of  their  evil  ex- 
ample, who  should  have  taught  you  better  things. 
Yet,  notwithstanding  all  the  guilt  of  your  lives, 
remember,  that  God  is  no  respecter  of  persons ; 
and,  if  you  listen  to  his  voice,  none  will  be  more 
welcome  to  his  kingdom  than  you.  To  have 
lived  so  long  in  the  midst  of  ignorance,  has  made 
yours  a  wretched  state.  But  God  is  willing  to 
receive  you,  and  to  number  you  with  his  chil- 
dren. If  you  give  your  youth  to  Christ,  he  will 
not  love  or  bless  you  the  less,  because  you  may 
not  have  one  friend  on  earth  travelling  in  the 
way  to  heaven.     All  the  blessings  promised  the 


PARENTS  —  TO  SUCH  PARENTS.      351 

young  Christian,  you,  by  coming  to  Christ,  may 
obtain.  Consider  not  then  what  your  friends  or 
relatives  are,  but  what  God  would  have  you  be; 
and  what,  on  a  dying  bed,  you  will  wish  to  have 
been.  Perhaps  you  have  to  say,  "I  have  been 
taught  to  serve  Satan,  to  profane  the  sabbath,  to 
laugh  at  religion,  and  undo  my  own  soul  ;"  yet, 
if  you  have  to  make  this  sad  complaint,  O !  be 
persuaded  to  add,  "  But  I  will  listen  to  these  in- 
instructions  no  more.  Jf  I  cannot  take  my 
friends  with  me  to  heaven,  I  will  strive  to  go 
myself.  Jf  I  cannot  save  their  souls,  I  will  seek 
salvation  for  my  own."  Many,  that  like  you, 
have  been  trained  up  in  vice  and  folly,  have  for- 
saken the  paths  of  sin ;  have  turned  to  God ; 
have  honoured  religion ;  have  been  distinguish- 
for  their  piety  on  earth  ;  and  shine  in  gloiy  for 
evermore.  And  would  not  you  be  like  them? 
you  may.     Yield  yourself  to  Jesus,  and  you  will. 

§  3.   TO  IRRELIGIOrS  PARENTS. 

[f  the  importance  of  early  religion  is  so  great, 
how  much  should  your  affection  for  your  chil- 
dren, urge  upon  you  to  improve  every  means, 
for  bringing  them  to  a  knowledge  of  it !  How 
great  is  your  guilt  while  you  trifle  with  your  own 
salvation,  and,  by  your  example,  teach  your  chil- 
dren to  trifle  with  theirs  !  Ancient  heathens  pre- 
sented their  offspring  to  be  burnt  alive,  as  offer- 
ings to  that  horrid  idol  Moloch.  And  do  not 
you,  in  reality,  act  a  still  more  shocking  part,  if 
you  train  up  your  offspring,  in  that  way,  which 
will  make  them  slaves  to  Satan  here,  and  sink 
them  to  hell  hereafter?  Where  is  your  pity  for 
your  children,  if  you  have  no  pily  for  their  im- 
mortal souls  !^     And  w  here  is  your  pity  for  their 


352  BRIEF  DIRECTIONS  TO 

souls,  if,  by  your  example,  you  teach  ihem  to 
profane  the  sabbath,  and  to  neglect  God,  and 
Christ,  and  heaven  ?  You  would  be  filled  with 
horror  at  the  thought  of  being  their  destroyers; 
yet,  which,  at  last,  will  appear  the  greater  cru- 
elty, to  destroy  the  bodies  of  your  children,  or, 
by  your  sinful  negligence,  to  sink  to  damnation 
their  immortal  souls  ?  O,  as  you  love  your  off- 
spring, show  yourselves  their  real  friends  by 
teaching  them  to  seek  the  friendship  of  their  God. 

§  4.    TO  THE  YOUNG  CHRISTIAN. 

I  may  now,  my  young  friend,  with  pleasure 
address  you,  who  are  a  partaker  of  those  spiri- 
tual blessings,  which  are  so  vast,  that  their  worth 
can  never  be  unfolded,  except  in  the  realms  of 
everlasting  day.  Happy  are  you,  and,  if  faith- 
ful unto  death,  you  will  soon  be  unspeakably 
happier.  Allow  me  to  suggest  to  you  a  little 
affectionate  advice. 

Direction  1.  Be  thankful:  you  have  peculiar 
reason  for  gratitude.  Look  around  you,  and 
see  what  multitudes  die  in  sin  !  what  thousands 
float  down  the  torrent  of  iniquity,  that  bears 
them  to  perdition !  And  why  are  not  you  one 
of  the  number?  It  is  the  grace  of  God  that  has 
made  you  to  differ.  Perhaps  you  are  poor;  you 
are  employed  in  the  factory,  the  fields,  or  the 
mill;  and  many  others  are  employed  around 
you,  who  are  unacquainted  with  the  blessings 
of  religion;  and  why  are  not  you,  like  them, 
poor  for  both  worlds  ?  Why  have  you  riches 
that  will  endure,  when  those  of  this  world  pe- 
rish ? 

**'Twas  the  same  Love  that  spread  the  feast. 
That  sweetly  forc'd  you  in  j 


YOUNG  CHRISTIANS.  353 

Else  you  had  still  refus'd  to  taste. 
And  perish'd  in  your  sin." 

Perhaps  you  are  placed  amidst  wealth  and 
splendour,  but  you  have  learned  to  seek  more 
enduring  riches.  If  so,  you  have  double  cause 
for  gratitude.  Few  that  are  in  such  circum- 
stances find  the  safe,  the  narrow  way. 

Direction  2.  Be  prayerful.  Cherish  a  spirit 
of  devotion.  There  can  be  no  religion  without 
prayer.  The  word  of  God  says,  "  Pray  without 
ceasing.  Be  careful  for  nothing  ;  but  in  every 
thing,  by  prayer,  and  supplication,  with  thanks- 
giving, let  your  requests  be  made  known  unto 
God.  And  the  peace  of  God,  which  passeth  all 
understanding,  shall  keep  your  hearts  and  minds, 
through  Christ  Jesus.  Pray  to  thy  Father  which 
is  in  secret ;  and  thy  Father,  which  seeth  in  se- 
cret, shall  reward  thee  openly.  Ask,  and  it  shall 
be  given  you ;  seek,  and  ye  shall  find ;  knock, 
and  it  shall  be  opened  unto  you ;  for  every  one 
that  asketh,  receiveth;  and  he  that  seeketh,  find- 
eth  ;  and  to  him  that  knocketh,  it  shall  be  open- 
ed." 

Have  stated  times  for  devotion.  At  the  very 
least,  begin  and  end  every  day  with  God.  You 
cannot  justly  expect  to  keep  religion  alive  in 
your  heart  with  less  than  this.  Take  time  from 
sleep,  sooner  than  want  time  for  prayer.  Watch 
against  formality  in  your  devotions.  It  is  heart- 
felt, not  cold,  though  studied  prayers,  that  are 
acceptable  to  God.  Cherish  a  devotional  spirit ; 
and,  besides  your  intercourse  with  God  in  stated 
seasons  of  prayer,  often  be  looking  up  to  him ; 
and  ever  go  to  him  in  the  name  of  Jesus.  Re- 
member that,  in  the  hour  of  prayer,  God,  in  a 

1  ThCTs.  V.  17.        Phil.  ir.  0.  7.        Matt.  vi.  6 ;  vii.  7,  P. 


364  DIRECTIONS  TO 

peculiar  manner,  is  present  with  you.  Go  into 
your  closet,  or  down  on  your  knees,  for  prayer, 
with  as  much  reverence  as  if  you  beheld  the 
great  and  blessed  God.  Could  you  ascend  into 
heaven,  every  morning  and  evening,  to  offer  your 
devotions  to  the  Most  High,  and  then  return 
again  to  earth,  what  a  life  of  holiness  would 
you  lead !  what  fervent  prayers  and  thanksgiv- 
ings would  you  offer  !  O !  consider  that  you  are 
as  much  before  the  heart-searching  God  now  as 
you  would  be  then,  and  that  he  as  much  knows 
your  desires  and  hears  your  requests. 

Direction  3.  Be  humble.  "  Be  clothed  with 
humility."  Wear  it  as  a  garment ;  let  it  appear 
in  all  your  intercourse  with  God  and  man. 
Pride  goeth  before  destruction.  Nothing  would 
give  Satan  more  advantage  against  you  than 
pride.  This  would  make  you  self-conceited,  and 
unwilling  to  be  reminded  of  your  defects ;  and 
the  next  step  to  this  is  ruin.  Remember  what 
you  were  — a  child  of  wrath;  —  what  you  are 
—  a  frail,  defective  creature  ;  —  and  what  you 
should  be  —  holy  as  a  saint  in  heaven — perfect 
as  your  Father  in  heaven  is  perfect.  When  you 
compare  yourself  with  what,  according  to  the  de- 
clarations of  the  Lord,  you  ought  to  be,  you  may 
cry  out  with  one  in  former  times,  "Blessed  Je- 
sus, either  these  are  not  thy  words,  or  we  are 
not  Christians  ;"  and,  while  this  is  the  case,  you 
should  cherish  humility. 

Direction  4.  Cleave  to  Jesus.  Make  him  your 
all  in  all.  Let  his  death  be  your  hope,  his  life 
your  pattern^  his  promises  your  encouragement, 
his  precepts  your  guide.  Watch  against  every 
thing  that  would  lead  you  to  rest  your  hopes  on 
^ny  foundation,  except  Jesus  crucified.   Remem« 


YOUNG  CHRISTIANS.  355 

ber  that  you  always  were,  that  you  still  are,  and 
ever  will  be,  at  the  best,  but  an  unprofitable  ser- 
vant. Keep  in  mind  that  the  Lord  has  said, 
WitJiout  me  ye  can  do  nothing.  Apply  to  him  for 
strength,  and  grace,  and  every  good.  Consider 
that  you  are  not  your  own ;  that  you  are  not  to 
live  to  yourself,  but  to  Christ ;  and  that  the  gov- 
erning desire  of  your  heart  should  be,  that  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  may  be  magnified  by  you,  in 
your  life  and  death. 

Direction  5.  Follow  holiness,  and  live  to  the 
glory  of  God.  Christianity  is  a  religion  all  heart 
and  soul ;  and  you  having  embraced  it  betimes, 
have  the  best  opportunity  for  exemplifying  its 
power.  The  slothful  servant  is  a  wicked  servant. 
The  fruitless  tree  is  a  cumberer  of  the  ground. 
Jesus  expects  more  than  the  leaves  of  a  fair  pro- 
fession ;  he  expects  the  fruits  of  holiness.  When 
he  compares  the  divine  word  to  seed,  he  repre- 
sents it,  in  his  real  disciples,  as  producing  thirty, 
sixty,  and  even  a  hundred  fold.  Though  more  in 
some  than  others,  yet  much,  even  where  least. 
You  have  much  to  do  for  the  glory  of  God,  for 
the  honour  of  Christ,  for  the  welfare  of  others, 
and  the  benefit  of  your  own  soul.  Though  your 
situation  should  be  ever  so  humble,  though  you 
should  even  have  but  one  talent,  yet  by  the  si- 
lent, but  powerful  eloquence  of  a  life  of  constant 
holiness,  you  may  do  much  to  recommend  the 
gospel- 

Direction  6.  Improve  eveiy  help  for  growing 
in  grace  With  this  view,  attend  some  place  of 
worship,  where  the  gospel  is  faithfully  preached. 
Make  those  your  friends  who  are  the  friends  of 

John,  XV.  5.  Phil.  i.  20.  1  Cor.  vi.  19,  20.         Matt,  xxv,  2R 

Luke.  xiii.  7.     Mark,  xi.  13,  14.    Matt.  xiii.  8. 


35b  DIRECTIONS  TO 

Christ,  and  whose  converse  and  counsel  will  help 
you  onward  to  heaven.  By  all  means  seek  ad- 
mission into  the  church  of  Christ.  You  have 
no  right  to  the  honourable  name  of  Christian, 
till  you  are  a  member  of  it.  Be  not  satisfied 
with  merely  hearino:  of  Jesus,  but  confess  him  ; 
avow  yourself  on  the  Lord's  side,  and  openly 
take  part  with  his  people.  Search  the  scriptures ; 
read  them  daily,  with  prayer,  for  divine  illumi- 
nation, and  the  divine  blessing.  Read  such 
practical  works  as  Baxter's  Saint's  Rest,  Dodd- 
ridge's Rise  and  Progress,  Freeston's  Directions, 
&c.  &c  * 

Direction  7.  Live  above  the  world.  Consider 
it  your  chief  business  on  earth  to  glorify  God, 
and  get  safe  to  heaven.  Confess  yourself  a 
strang^er  and  pilgrim  upon  earth ;  and  keep 
eternity  and  heaven  in  view.  Thus  strive  to 
entertain  no  more  regard  for  the  world,  than  you 
will  have  for  it,  when  in  death  you  are  leaving 
it  for  ever.  "  Pray,  as  for  eternity  ;  hear,  as  for 
eternity ;  live,  as  for  eternity ;  obey,  and  do 
every  thing  as  for  eternity." 

Direction  8.  Be  faithful  unto  death.  The 
young  followers  of  Jesus  are  exposed  to  so 
many  snares,  that,  while  the  aged  Christian  re- 
joices over  them,  he  may,  excepting  over  a  few 
who  seem  to  be  too  firmly  rooted  to  be  shaken, 
rejoice  with  trembling.  Irreligious  connexions 
are  among  the  most  fatal  snares.  Alas  !  there 
is  too  much  truth  in  the  severe  observation ; 
"  How  few  young  professors  are  there,  that 
will  not  forsake  their  Christian  friends  and  their 

*  A  Guide  for  Young  Disciples,  by  the  Author  of  this  book,  is  espe- 
cially designed  to  instruct  and  animate  young  Christians  in  their 
wav  to  heaven- 


YOUNG  CHRISTIANS.  357 

Redeemer,  for  an  ungoaly  wife  or  husband." 
Watch  against  all  the  snares  that  would  en- 
tangle your  feet ;  and  all  the  fleshly  lusts  that 
ivar  against  the  soul.  Keep  in  view  the  blessings 
promised  to  those  who  persevere.  When  the 
world  tempts  you  aside,  think  of  Peter's  words  : 
"  Lord,  to  whom  shall  we  go  P  thou  hast  the  words 
of  eternal  life  !"  I  once  knew  a  poor  man,  who 
mentioned  to  me  how  much  happiness  he  had 
found  in  religion,  in  the  early  part  of  his  Chris- 
tian course.  Peace  with  God  made  his  life 
pleasant.  The  night  and  the  day  were  alike 
cheerful ;  and  fear  and  grief  fled  far  from  him. 
But  words  to  this  effect  were  suggested  to  him, 
and  run  in  his  mind :  "  What  need  is  there  of 
so  much  ado  about  religion  ?"  For  a  time  he 
resisted,  but  at  length  yielded  to  the  tempter. 
He  went  backwards,  and  Satan  triumphed. 
And  now  farewell  to  peace  ;  his  comforts  were 
gone.  Distress  haunted  him  ;  he  could  not  lie 
down  at  night  without  fear  of  w  aking  in  eternal 
torments  before  the  morning  came.  He  found 
it  a  bitter,  as  well  as  a  guilty  thing  to  forsake 
his  Redeemer.  And,  though  he  was  afterw  ards 
restored  to  God,  he  stated  that  he  did  not  find 
that  degree  of  happiness  which  he  had  experi- 
enced before  his  fall.  Holdfast,  then,  what  thou 
hast,  that  no  man  take  thy  crown. 

§  5.      A  PRAYER  FOR  THE  YOUNG   CHRISTIAN. 

Great  and  most  compassionate  God,  with  what 
pleasure  should  I  approach  thee,  since  thou  hast 
taught  me  to  call  thee  my  Father,  and  hast  con- 
descended to  become  my  God.  Thy  love  to  me 
has  been  as  unceasing  as  the  flight  of  time ;  and 


358  PRAYER  FOR 

O !  thou  hast  taught  me  to  indulge  the  ecstatic 
hope,  that  thou  wilt  be  my  portion  in  a  better 
world,  when  time,  with  all  its  periods,  is  no  more. 
I  bless  thee,  my  God ;  I  praise  thee  for  what  I 
am,  and  what  I  have,  and  what  I  hope  for.  I 
am,  I  trust,  through  thy  grace,  a  child  of  thine, 
though  once  I  was  thy  enemy.  For  ever  be  thy 
love  adored,  for  softening  my  hard  heart,  for  en- 
lightening my  benighted  mind,  for  leading  me 
to  Jesus,  and  giving  me  every  good  in  him.  O 
my  Father  !  the  praises  of  all  the  inhabitants  of 
heaven,  through  ten  thousand  ages,  would  not 
sufficiently  extol  thy  love  to  me :  and  alas  !  how 
mean  are  my  feeble  offerings.  O  my  Saviour  I 
I  owe  thee  a  debt  which  I  shall  never  be  able  fully 
to  acknowledge.  Train  me,  O  my  God  !  for  that 
world,  where  I  shall  praise  thee  in  sweeter 
strains,  "  while  immortality  endures."  Let  me 
keep  that  world  in  view;  and  lead  me  forward, 
till  thou  shalt  fix  me  safely  there.  Ever  let  grati- 
tude dwell  in  my  heart,  and  praises  flow  from 
my  lips.  Let  prayer,  as  it  is  my  highest  privi- 
lege, ever  be  my  dear  delight.  While  I  am  pursu- 
ing my  pilgrimage  to  eternity,  may  I  daily,  and 
often  in  the  day,  hold  sweet  communion  with 
thee,  O  Lord.  To  thee  may  I  flee  in  fevery  hour 
of  temptation  or  grief,  to  tell  thee  all  my  heart; 
and  show  thyself  the  hearer  of  my  prayers.  Let 
me  be  clothed  ivith  humility.  Let  me  manifest 
this  grace,  in  all  my  intercourse  with  mankind. 
May  I  feel  my  defects,  reach  at  higher  holi- 
ness, and  lie,  with  a  lowly  spirit,  at  the  foot  of 
the  cross.  May  I  abide  in  Christ,  as  the  life 
of  my  soul,  the  foundation  of  my  hopes,  the 
source  of  my  comfort,  and  my  all  in  all.  While 
t  trust  in  his  death,  may  I  imitate  his  life ;  and, 


A  YOUNG  CHRISTIAN.  359 

by  consistent  holiness,  adorn  the  gospel  I  pro- 
fess. Let  thy  word  be  dear  to  me.  May  its  trea- 
sures be  hidden  in  my  heart ;  and  when  I  search 
its  sacred  pages,  may  it  be  with  a  humble,  teach- 
able mind ;  and  may  thy  Spirit  deign  to  be  my 
instructor.  May  thy  house  and  ordinances  be 
the  delight  of  my  soul ;  and  may  I  live  on  earth 
looking  forward,  with  longing  desires,  to  thy 
house  above.  Let  me  confess  myself  a  stranger 
upon  earth,  have  my  affections  set  on  heaven  ; 
and  feel  that  all  which  worldly  men  esteem  im- 
portant, is  a  trifle  to  me,  who  hope  soon  to  ap- 
pear in  thy  presence  above.  My  God,  for  Je- 
sus's  sake  grant  these  blessings,  and  this  one 
more  request:  Keep  me  faithful  unto  death; 
and,  when  I  have  done  and  borne  thy  will  here, 
with  robes  washed  in  the  blood  of  Jesus,  may  I 
enter  thy  kingdom,  and  unite  in  the  triumphal 
song  —  Salvation  to  our  God,  which  sitteth  upon 
the  throne,  and  unto  the  Lamb,  for  ever  and  ever  ! 
Amen. 


THE  END. 


DATE  DUE 

PfiiB^^rW 

•-I 

CAVUORO 

PHINTtO  IK  U.S.A. 

^iiii(ii^ii?i(iilfi?±^i!;?'  Seminar  LibSriM 


anr  Librari( 

fill 


J    1012  01251   2341 

m 


■iDy. 


l\^l/^ 


mi 


^-s 


'A 


